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Terrorists: Upcoming Iraqi Vote "Satanic"

Soldiers, patients and prisoners began voting Monday in national elections, three days ahead of the general population, while insurgent groups denounced the balloting as a "satanic project" but did not threaten to attack polling stations. The groups vowed to "continue our holy war...to establish an Islamic state ruled by the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad."

In a rare joint statement, Al-Qaida in Iraq and four other Islamic extremist groups - what newspapers refrain from calling terrorist groups even though that is what they are - denounced the election as a "satanic project" and said that "to engage in the so-called political process" violates "the legitimate policy approved by God."

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified, but it appeared on a Web site that often publishes extremist material. The absence of a clear-cut threat could reflect the growing interest among Sunni Arabs, the foundation of the insurgency, to take part in the election. A leaflet that appeared Monday in the Baghdad Sunni stronghold of Azamiyah acknowledged that Sunni Arabs could make gains in the election but that "fighting will continue with the infidels and their followers."