A man purporting to lead an African branch of the al Qaeda militant network claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the beheading of a Sudanese newspaper editor who was found dead last week.
The man, in a statement distributed to Sudanese newspapers, called editor Mohamed Taha a "dog of dogs from the ruling party", and accused him of insulting the prophet Mohammad.
"Three individuals from this organisation undertook this operation ... and they are now outside Sudan", said the statement, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. The statement was signed by Abu Hafs al-Sudani, who said he was the leader of al Qaeda in Sudan and Africa.
Taha, an ally of the government, was reported kidnapped from outside his home in the capital Khartoum a week ago, and was found dead on Wednesday.
