posted July 22, 2004 06:06 PM              

Bulgaria and Poland defy threat


Poland has one of the larger forces in Iraq
Bulgarian and Polish officials have said they will not be cowed by threats from a group claiming to be part of the Islamist militant network al-Qaeda.
The obscure group said both states would be attacked unless they withdrew their troops from Iraq.

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said his country "would not give in to the terrorists' pressure".

A Polish defence official said that to give in to threats would only encourage militants to make greater demands.

This threat comes from an unknown group and is very general

Janusz Zemke
Polish deputy defence minister

Bulgaria has around 485 troops in Iraq while Poland has 2,350.

Bulgaria reiterated its commitment to staying in Iraq last week in the midst of a hostage drama.

One Bulgarian lorry driver was beheaded by his captors and another is still missing.

By contrast, the Philippines withdrew its 51-strong contingent in return for the safe release of Philippine lorry driver Angelo de la Cruz, also abducted by militants.

'Unknown group'

The Tawhid Islamic Group described itself in a statement on the internet as "al-Qaeda in Europe".

It said that Bulgaria and Poland would "pay the price" for backing the US and referred to the attacks on Madrid this year and on America in September 2001.

"Withdraw your troops from Iraq or we will make you hear the sound of explosions," the statement added, referring to Poland.

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Janusz Zemke said the threat was from an unknown group and was very general.

"It is not permitted to give way to terrorists because this leads to the escalation of their demands," he was quoted as saying by the Polish news agency PAP.