An Islamic group on Monday issued a Internet statement threatening Italy with attacks if Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi refuses to withdraw troops from Iraq.

"This is a warning to the Italian government which has given itself to serving the criminal American crusade to follow the example of others and leave Iraq," said the web statement signed by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claims to have links to al Qaeda.

"If not, we will speak in the language of blood and shake the earth everywhere in your depths," the statement added.

Islamic militants have repeated threats against Italy as part of their war on the United States and its allies.

A statement posted on the Internet earlier this month by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades has warned of a "bloodbath like September 11" if Berlusconi remained in power.

Berlusconi, a close US ally, backed the US-led war to oust Iraq's Saddam Hussein. Italy has some 2,700 troops stationed in Iraq.

Till now, the Philippines, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras have quit what once was a 34-nation US-led coalition in Iraq.