An Islamic militant faction in the U.S.-protected Kurdish safe haven was created by Usama bin Laden from terrorist cells shifted from Afghanistan just before the Sept. 11 attacks, a top Iraqi Kurdish leader claimed Tuesday.
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According to Iraqi Kurdish evidence, the core of Ansar al-Islam, or Supporters of Islam, was created 10 days before the Sept. 11 attacks as part of bin Laden's plans to disperse his terrorist network before an expected U.S. strike on Al Qaeda's command in Afghanistan, Salih said.

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