The statement, signed by the Brigades of Abu Hafs al-Masri and posted Friday on an Internet site known for carrying extremist Islamic content, follows the expiration of a three-month offer of a terrorism truce purportedly made by Osama bin Laden to European states, including Italy.

"Either you get rid of the inefficient Berlusconi, or we will really burn Italy," the undated statement said, adding, "Berlusconi is dragging you into more blood plus absolute slavery to America."  How brazen.  It is this branch of Islam that is dragging everyone into bloodshed and absolute slavery...to Islam, who continue to blame others for what they themselves are guilty of.

There was no way to verify the authenticity of the statement.

The Italian government didn't immediately respond to the new threat. Berlusconi, a staunch supporter of President Bush, said recently that the Italian contingent would stay in Iraq until democracy takes hold.

The premier, however, has faced strong opposition for his pro-U.S. stance, and many here have called for a troops' withdrawal.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigade is a shadowy group that takes its name from a top al-Qaida lieutenant who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan in 2001. It has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on Western targets, including the March 11 train bombings in Madrid. Counterterrorism experts question whether the group has any agents capable of launching attacks and say some of its claims are obviously false or exaggerated.

The latest statement attributed to the group urges Italians to get rid of their premier or "the next message will be on your land not on the Internet," threatening to use "unconventional weapons" in a strike similar to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

"We are in Italy, and not one of you is safe so long as you refuse our sheik's (bin Laden's) offer (for a truce)," said the statement, which appeared in Italian and Arabic.

"We will turn his promise into reality. A bloodbath similar to Sept. 11 awaits you," the statement said. "We are able to aim at qualitative targets with unconventional weapons that will cause a grand catastrophe." the Muslims are the ones who are in slavery....to sin. Murder is sin. [ even if they are an 'infidel' ]

Italy sent 3,000 troops to Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein to help rebuild the country. The contingent is based in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

In November, a truck bombing at an Italian barracks in southern Iraq killed 19 Italians, the country's worst military loss since World War II. In May, an Italian soldier died of wounds suffered in a battle with militants believed loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Those who give in to such heinous threats, are on the list of those who are thrown into the second death:

Rev 21:8 The fearful, [those who give in to the wicked] and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

It's not America's fault that the Muslims are in a rage. It's the Koran's fault.  It incites them with fury, as it commands them to wage war. See for yourself}}} Out of the mouth of allah

Italy is a country where the majority believes in the Son of God. The ones who are making such fowl threats...do not.  Therein, is the power for the politicians to put a stop to the murderers.

None of this world's leaders are willing to confront the Truth, to expose it. Don't they know? that the truth has more power?  The people left the Pharisees and began to follow Jesus... because of the things He said to them. [which is why they incited the crowds to put Him to death]

Words have power. ['Terrorists' are another proof of that.  What do you think created them?]