Al Qaida calls for more attacks during Ramadan

Al-Qaida in Iraq has urged supporters to intensify attacks on United States and Iraqi forces during the holy month of Ramadan and called for a boycott of next week's constitutional referendum. The call to boycott the national vote on the new Iraqi constitution was issued in an Internet posting on Tuesday, while the exhortation to increased attacks was published on the web a day earlier.

"While we are in this Ramadan, we say O Islam, muster your strength, and we incite the believers to fight the worshippers of the cross who have violated limits and honours, demolished mosques and houses, burnt copies of the Quran and sowed corruption in the land," it said.

Ramadan began on Tuesday across much of the Middle East, after religious officials declared they had seen the crescent moon Monday night.

There has been a spike in violence, especially in suicide bombings, during the past two Ramadan holidays since the US-led invasion of Iraq. The increased violence has also hit Saudi Arabia, home to two of Islam's holiest sites.

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The al-Qaida in Iraq statement recalled historic battles Muslim had won during the holy month when they were greatly outnumbered by opponents.

The statement asked God "...to make this month a victory for Muslims and a month of defeat for the hypocrites and polytheists." The statement on the constitution declared there was no point in voting because "You know very well that the Americans are going to supervise collecting the voting boxes and counting the votes."