DUBAI: Al Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri has ruled that the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Nusra Front in Syria should operate as separate entities, according to a letter posted on Al Jazeera television’s website.
ISI leader Sheikh Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi had “made a mistake” by announcing a merger between the two radical Islamist groups in the neighbouring Arab states”without consulting us,” he said.
The merger plan has been “damaging to all jihadists”, Zahawari said, adding that “Al Nusra Front is an independent branch of Al Qaeda”.
Zawahiri ordered ISI and Al Nusra to “cease all hostilities towards each other” and to help each other “in terms of men, money and weapons”.
He also appointed cleric Abu Khalid Al Suri as his representative in Syria to resolve any issues resulting from the cancellation of the merger of the two wings.
Saudi gives Syria opposition right to name pilgrims
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has decided to give Syria’s opposition National Coalition the right to process applications of Syrians wishing to perform the hajj pilgrimage in autumn, an official said yesterday.
The kingdom handled last year’s Haj visa applications without cooperating with Damascus.
But Riyadh has now decided that the opposition council is “entitled to issue hajj permits for the Syrians,” Haj ministry spokesman Hatem Qadi said.
He said Saudi authorities took the decision after a coalition delegation visited the Haj ministry.
The move shows the kingdom’s eagerness to give further legitimacy to Syria’s opposition. Last year, Damascus said Riyadh barred Syrian pilgrims from the Haj, claiming Saudi authorities did not sign the necessary accord.
AFP
