Iraq Qaeda chief says Rumsfeld fleeing battlefield

DUBAI, Nov 10 (Reuters) A purported audio recording by Iraq's al Qaeda wing leader said outgoing US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld quit to flee the Iraqi battlefield.

Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, said in the recording posted on the Internet that the group has 12,000 armed fighters and 10,000 others waiting to be equipped to fight US troops in Iraq.

''I tell the lame duck (US administration) do not rush to escape as did your defence minister... stay on the battleground.'' Stung by a ''thumping'' defeat at Tuesday's Congressional elections, US President George W Bush said Rumsfeld had resigned because there was need for ''fresh perspective in Iraq.'' Bush said he was open to any idea for a new approach and publicly reaffirmed a belief that ''victory'' was possible in Iraq. The change of guard raised speculation it was meant to pave the way for a swift US troop withdrawal.

REUTERS SP RK1810