DUBAI, Jan 19 (AFP) - The Al-Qaeda linked Army of Ansar al-Sunna, which has threatened to attack anyone involved in Iraq's landmark elections, released footage Wednesday purporting to show the execution of two Iraqis working for a US company on preparations for the vote.
In a video posted on the group's website, the two men were shown from the back being shot in the head after "confessing" they had gone to the northern cities of Mosul and Arbil to set up Internet systems on behalf of their American employer, identified as "Proactive."
One of them identified himself as Mohammed Abdullah, an engineer, while the other gave his name as Ali Khudair, an assistant engineer, who said he and his colleague had been "captured by the mujahedeen (holy warriors)" in Arbil.
The man, who spoke in front of a banner carrying the name of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna, said the purpose of setting up the Internet systems was to facilitate the US-backed January 30 elections.
The Army of Ansar al-Sunna said the execution of the two should serve as a "lesson" to all other "apostates."
The pair had been "sent to set up Internet systems in centers affiliated to the (US) crusader forces in the cities of Mosul and Arbil," said a statement also posted on the group's website, and whose authenticity could not be verified.
After they were captured in Arbil and "confessed" to what they had been doing, "God's ruling was implemented against them by firing squad so that they will serve as a lesson to others," the statement said.
"We tell all those helping the crusader forces through the election farce: repent ... lest you meet the same fate," it warned.
The video showed Internet equipment "seized" with the two men.
The chairman of Iraq's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Abdul Hussein Hendawi, told AFP in Baghdad that he had no information about the executions and said he was not aware whether the IEC had subcontracted to a firm named Proactive.
Despite the latest video, he said: "We are very optimistic about the election. You will be surprised."
The Army of Ansar al-Sunna has taken credit for some of the most gruesome attacks in Iraq, including the killing of foreign hostages and Iraqis accused of "collaborating" with American-led forces.
It also claimed a December 21 attack on a US base in Mosul that killed 22 people, including 14 US soldiers.
Ansar al-Sunna split from radical group Ansar al-Islam, both of which are believed to have links with Iraq's most wanted man, Al-Qaeda's supremo in the country Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
On December 29, the group threatened to attack polling stations during the elections.
"We warn all (Iraqis) against participating in the elections that will take place in Iraq because all polling stations and those present in them will be targeted by the valiant soldiers of Allah (God)," said a statement posted on its website.
That threat followed an audiotape attributed to Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and aired by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television calling for a boycott of the Iraqi polls.
A statement attributed to Ansar al-Sunna on November 18 threatened to attack both candidates and voters.
01/19/2005 16:37 GMT - AFP