WORLD'S MUSLIMS VOLUNTEER TO KILL JEWS

Indonesia studies suicide bomber claim
SYDNEY (AFP) - The Australian government said it was investigating a claim that hundreds of Southeast Asian suicide bombers had been deployed to attack Jewish interests in countries that support Israel. The claim was made by the leader of the radical Jakarta-based Asian Muslim Youth Movement (AMYM), Suaib Bidu, The Australian newspaper reported. “The minister for foreign affairs and the department of foreign affairs are investigating what is reported in the papers today and we are treating it very, very seriously,” said Human Services Minister Joe Hockey.

Bidu warned that thousands more militants were preparing to die as martyrs in revenge attacks over Israel’s military operations against Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, The Australian said. He warned that attacks would be launched against Jewish targets in countries such as Britain, the United States and possibly Australia. The group had already despatched 217 suicide bombers, including 72 Indonesians as well as citizens of six other Southeast Asian nations, Bidu told the newspaper.

Iraqi Shiites Chant 'Death to Israel'
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of Shiites chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" marched through the streets of Baghdad's biggest Shiite district Friday in a show of support for Hezbollah militants battling Israeli troops in Lebanon. ...

The protest was organized by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose political movement built around the Mahdi Army militia has been modeled after Hezbollah. Al-Sadr summoned followers from throughout the Shiite heartland of southern Iraq to converge on Baghdad for the rally but he did not attend.

Demonstrators, wearing white burial shrouds symbolizing their willingness to die for Hezbollah, waved the group's yellow banner and chanted slogans in support of its leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who has attained a cult status in the Arab world for his defiance of Israel. "Allah, Allah, give victory to Hassan Nasrallah," the crowd chanted. "Mahdi Army and Hezbollah are one. Let them confront us if they dare," the predominantly male crowd shouted, waving the flags of Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq. ....

"I am wearing the shroud and I am ready to meet martyrdom," said Mohammed Khalaf, 35, owner of a clothes shop in the southern city of Amarah. ...

Iraqi government television said the Defense Ministry had approved the demonstration, a sign of public anger over Israel's offensive and of al-Sadr's stature as a major player in Iraqi politics.

"I consider my participation in this rally a religious duty. I am proud to join this crowd and I am ready to die for the sake of Lebanon," said Khazim al-Ibadi, 40, a government employee from Hillah.