'Al-Qaeda' group threatens France

NEW FRENCH LEADER: Sarkozy has been openly friendly to the United States.

Other stories in the section:

Supporters of Clinton less likely to vote for Obama

43 per cent of registered Democrats who polled still say they prefer Clinton.

• G-8 curtain-raiser: Climate change tops agenda

Featured Blog

Abhishek Patni

MAULANA MULAYAM AND PERILS OF NUCLEAR DEAL

Featured Slideshows

Paris: A group claiming ties to al-Qaeda has threatened terrorist attacks linked to Nicolas Sarkozy's inauguration as French president on Wednesday, according to a statement posted on an Islamic Web site.

The threats by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades could not be verified. There was no immediate comment from the French Interior Ministry.

The group, calling itself al-Qaeda's wing in Europe, warned of a ''fierce battle at the heart of Sarkozy's capital'' in ''the coming days,'' according to the site, which is known as a clearing house for material from al-Qaeda and groups linked to it.

The group accused Sarkozy of planning to mimic US policy. Sarkozy has been openly friendly to the United States, though he has called the Iraq war a mistake.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades has claimed responsibility for a wide range of attacks, from the 2004 Madrid bombings to the 2005 London attacks _ and even for a massive U.S. power blackout in 2003. Terror experts have cast doubt on the claims, noting most are unsubstantiated and some clearly fakes.

French authorities have been on alert for election-related attacks or other violence for months. Sarkozy's election May 6 sparked a wave of protests and scattered car burnings by leftists and other opponents, and French police are on alert for inauguration-related unrest.