Qaeda group forms 'Islamic cabinet' in Iraq

DUBAI: The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq, an alliance of Sunni groups headed by Al-Qaeda, said Thursday it has formed its first cabinet, in an Internet videotaped statement.   

"It has become a necessity at this stage for your brothers in the Shura (consultative) council of the Islamic State of Iraq to declare the formation of the first Islamic government," said a purported spokesman of the militant group.   

Among the 10 cabinet members was Abu Hamza al-Muhajer as "war minister", said the man who wore a traditional Iraqi outfit but whose face was covered.    

Abu Hamza -- also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri -- had replaced former Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after he was killed in a US air raid in June.   

Other ministers had similar pseudonyms, many of them apparently adopting names of Sunni Arab families in Iraq. They held portfolios like oil, agriculture, and health.   

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi meanwhile continued to be the emir of the Islamic state of Iraq, or the leader of the militant alliance, according to the statement.   

The same group had broadcast earlier on Thursday Internet footage of the purported execution of 20 Iraqi policemen it said were kidnapped last week in the north of the country.