YANGON: Al Qaeda militants have calledfor support for Myanmar´s Rohingya Muslims, who are facing asecurity crackdown that has sent about 400,000 of them fleeingto Bangladesh, warning that Myanmar would face "punishment" forits "crimes".
The group behind the Sept.11, 2001, attacks on theUntied States issued a statement urging Muslims around the worldto support their fellow Muslims in Myanmar with aid, weapons and"military support".
"The savage treatment meted out to our Muslim brothers ...shall not pass without punishment," al Qaeda said in astatement, according to the SITE monitoring group.
"The government of Myanmar shall be made to taste what ourMuslim brothers have tasted.
"Myanmar says its security forces are engaged in a legitimatecampaign against "terrorists", whom it blames for attacks on thepolice and army, and on civilians.
The government has warned of bomb attacks in cities, and al Qaeda´s call to arms is likely to compound those concerns.
"We call upon all mujahid brothers in Bangladesh, India,Pakistan, and the Philippines to set out for Burma to help theirMuslim brothers, and to make the necessary preparations —training and the like - to resist this oppression," the groupsaid.