DUBAI - The group of Al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed it was behind two deadly attacks on the interior ministry, which it said in an Internet statement Friday had targeted the minister.
"Two lions from the martyrdom-seeking brigade (launched) two martyr operations against the interior ministry," said the Organization of Al-Qaeda of Jihad in the Land of Two Rivers.
"This heroic attack was aimed at the interior minister (Falah al-Nakib) who, according to our information, was in the building but he escaped," added the statement, the authenticity of which could not be confirmed.
The group claimed it killed "dozens" in the attacks Thursday.
Five policemen were killed and five more wounded when two car bombs detonated outside the ministry, a strategic post in Iraq's battle against the insurgency.
The group also claimed a car bomb attack on Thursday near a police station in Baquba, north of the capital, which killed one person wounded 18
In another Internet statement, the group said Zarqawi would "soon" make a speech addressed to "the mujahedeen and Al-Ummah (Islamic nation)".
Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks in Iraq, including a car bombing Monday that killed 118 people in the town of Hilla, south of the capital.
In December, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden named the Jordanian-born Zarqawi "emir" of the terror network in Iraq. The United States has placed a 25 million dollar bounty on both men.
03/04/2005 13:05 GMT