Al Qaeda Manifesto Found in Timbuktu

Exposes disagreements within the movement over how strictly to impose Shariah

TIMBUKTU: In their hurry to flee last month, Al Qaeda fighters left behind a crucial document. Tucked under a pile of papers and trash is a confidential letter that spells out the terror network's strategy for conquering northern Mali and reflecting internal discord over how to rule the region.    

The document is an unprecedented window into the terrorist operation, indicating that Al Qaeda predicted the military intervention that would dislodge it in January and recognised its own vulnerability.

The letter also shows a sharp division within Al Qaeda's Africa chapter over how quickly and how strictly to apply Islamic law, with its senior commander expressing dismay over the whipping of women and the destruction of Timbuktu's ancient monuments.