Group claims Baghdad bomb

A previously unknown group has said it bombed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

"We, the Armed Vanguards of the Second Muhammad Army, claim responsibility for the bombing of the UN headquarters.

"We say it proudly that we did not hesitate for one moment to kill Crusader blood," read a typewritten, Arabic statement that Al-Arabiya TV broadcast.

The Emirates-based station did say how or where it received the statement.

The statement included a pledge "to continue fighting every foreigner (in Iraq) and to carry out similar operations".

Such statements from several self-proclaimed fighting forces have appeared often in the Arab media in recent months.

US military officials say it is difficult to determine whether any of the groups exist beyond their videotapes and written statements and are responsible for attacks on coalition troops and, increasingly, civilian targets in Iraq.