DUBAI, Aug 1 (AFP) - A statement in the name of an Al-Qaeda group has threatened to attack Italians everywhere unless Rome pulls its troops out of Iraq within 15 days, a pan-Arab newspaper said on Sunday.
"We give (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi 15 days to pull out of Iraq. After that, we cannot be blamed for the shedding of the blood of any Italian anywhere, anytime, and we will trigger an earthquake in your country," said a "message to the Italian government" signed by "Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades - Al-Qaeda organization".
The statement, dated Saturday, was emailed to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi and made available to AFP ahead of publication on Monday.
Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
The group recalled having given Italy a "last warning" to withdraw from Iraq, where Rome has been a staunch supporter of the US-led invasion and maintains about 3,000 troops.
On July 16, the group threatened Italy with a bloodbath on the scale of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States if Berlusconi remained in power.
"We had sent a last warning to the Italian people and the Italian government to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible, but we saw nothing of that," the latest statement said.
"Hence, the language of blood is on its way to you. We are mobilizing our cells in Rome and all Italian cities," it warned.
The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades claimed responsibility for the March 11 train bombings in Madrid, which killed 191 people, as well as for November 2003 bombings in Istanbul that killed 25 people.
The statement said the 15-day ultimatum was Italy`s "last chance" to comply.
"After that, the Madrid conquest is clear proof (that we mean what we say), and the Istanbul conquest is vivid in the Turks` memory," it said.
Abu Hafs al-Masri headed Al-Qaeda military operations until he was killed in the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
A statement claiming to be from his group and posted on an Islamist website Friday vowed that Al-Qaeda would "shed blood all over Europe" following the expiry of a conditional truce offer by the network`s chief Osama bin Laden.