Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's frontman in Iraq, on Wednesday purportedly declared all out war on Shiite Muslims, according to an audio tape released on Internet.

Al-Zarqawi, the speaker on the tape, announced that his group would launch "all out war" against Shiites everywhere as well as the Iraqi government and its troops.

"Beware, there will be no mercy," said the speaker.

He, meanwhile, told all other religious and tribal groups to join his anti-government campaign or face attacks as well, adding his militant forces would attack any Iraqi who it believes has cooperated with an ongoing US-Iraqi offensive against Tal Afar in northern Iraq.

"If proven that any of (Iraq's) national guards, police or army are agents of the Crusaders, they will be killed and his house will be demolished or burnt" as a punishment, the voice said in the tape.

Earlier in the day, al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida wing also claimed responsibility for attacks on US and Iraqi forces to avenge their military offensive in Tal Afar.

"We rejoice the Muslim nation that the battle to avenge the Sunnis of Tal Afar has begun in all over Iraq," said an al-Qaida statement posted on an Islamic website.

"The brigades have set off to uphold their religion through death," it added.

Suicide bombers waged a series of deadly attacks against the US and Iraqi forces along with civilians in Baghdad, killing dozens of people and wounding more others.

Source: Xinhua