May 18, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1424

DUBAI, May 17: The time has come to “globalize the jihad”, a senior leader of the Salafi movement in Morocco told a magazine published on Friday, the same day suicide attacks rocked Casablanca.

“After Sept 11 (2001), the jihad has become open everywhere,” Abu Seif al-Islam, whose movement is considered sympathetic to Osama bin Laden, told the Saudi-owned weekly Al-Majallah, referring to the suicide hijackings in the United States.

In a February message attributed to the Al Qaeda leader threats were made against the North African country.

“Muslims must mobilize to free themselves from the yoke of apostate regimes subject to America,” Osama purportedly said, naming Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria and Yemen as candidates for “liberation”.

Asked about the possibility of the Al Qaeda striking against Jews in Morocco, Abu Seif replied: “Morocco is at the heart of the conflict because it is impossible to target the ‘Crusaders’ in their homes and to exclude Morocco”. —AFP