A Message From the Ansar Al-Sunna Commander

On January 17, 2007, Islamist websites posted a message by the commander of Ansar Al-Sunna addressed to the Sunnis in general, and particularly to the mujahideen in Baghdad. The message describes the acts of aggression that are being committed against the Sunnis in Baghdad on a daily basis by Muqtada Al-Sadr's army, and states that the only way to stop this hostility is to counter fire with fire rather than with criticism and warnings.

The message also urges Sunnis in general to join the mujahideen in their battle against Al-Sadr's army, and suggests that every four mujahideen should create a group which will purge its area of collaborators and disloyal individuals.

The message concludes by calling on the mujahideen to avoid harming innocent people "who are not involved in the crimes committed by the Shi'ite militias and by the government," and to avoid oppressing others.