"Al-Qaeda" claims Pakistan attack

An internet posting purportedly by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan says it carried out Monday's car bomb attack on the Danish embassy in Pakistan. At least six people were killed and 30 injured in the attack in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. "Al-Qaeda" claims Pakistan attack The statement said the attack was to exact revenge over the reprinting of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers in February. The cartoons, deemed offensive to Islam, led to worldwide protests. The authenticity of the statement, which was posted on a website used by Islamic militants, could not be independently verified. The statement, signed by one Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, said that if Denmark did not apologise for the cartoons, more attacks would follow. "Cowardly" It said their attack is but a "warning to this infidel nation and whoever follows its example". Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called the act "cowardly" and said it would not change Danish policies. Investigators say it is still not clear who carried out the attack, as Pakistan's main militant group recently declared a ceasefire. Correspondents say that just a few weeks before the attack, al-Qaeda threatened Denmark over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed which were published in the country. Monday's bombing followed a relative lull in militant attacks since a new government came to power after February elections pledging to negotiate an end to violence. Pakistan's top Taleban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is in peace talks with the authorities in an attempt to end fighting in the country's north-west. Other militant factions - accused of being involved in similar attacks in the past - have also recently engaged in talks with the government.

"Al-Qaeda" claims Pakistan attack

The statement said the attack was to exact revenge over the reprinting of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers in February.

The cartoons, deemed offensive to Islam, led to worldwide protests.

The authenticity of the statement, which was posted on a website used by Islamic militants, could not be independently verified.

The statement, signed by one Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, said that if Denmark did not apologise for the cartoons, more attacks would follow.

"Cowardly"

It said their attack is but a "warning to this infidel nation and whoever follows its example".

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called the act "cowardly" and said it would not change Danish policies.

Investigators say it is still not clear who carried out the attack, as Pakistan's main militant group recently declared a ceasefire.

Correspondents say that just a few weeks before the attack, al-Qaeda threatened Denmark over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed which were published in the country.

Monday's bombing followed a relative lull in militant attacks since a new government came to power after February elections pledging to negotiate an end to violence.

Pakistan's top Taleban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is in peace talks with the authorities in an attempt to end fighting in the country's north-west.

Other militant factions - accused of being involved in similar attacks in the past - have also recently engaged in talks with the government.