Al-Qaida No. 2 praises al-Zarqawi in tape (AP) Updated: 2006-06-09 20:40
The Al-Jazeera network broadcast a video by al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri
on Friday in which he spoke about Palestinian and Egyptian politics and the
situation in Darfur.
Ayman al-Zawahri speaks to the press in this
1998 file photo taken in Khost, Afghanistan and made available Friday
March 19, 2004. [AP] |
The tape apparently was made before the announcement that Iraq's most-wanted
terrorist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed Wednesday by a U.S. airstrike.
Al-Zawahri praised the al-Qaida in Iraq leader's efforts to confront U.S.-led
forces in Iraq.
"God bless the prophet of Islam in Iraq, the persistent hero of Islam, the
Holy Warrior Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," al-Zawahri said.
He also sent greetings to the Shura Council of Mujahedeen in Iraq and
insurgents, "who are confronting crusaders and their apostate aides and the
merchants of religion."
The bearded al-Zawahri wore a white turban and tunic, and sat before a black
background with an automatic weapon propped behind his right shoulder. He
repeatedly waved his right hand and pointed his finger in a gesture of
admonishment.
Al-Zawahri urged Muslims to reject a referendum proposed by Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas on establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
"I call on Muslims to reject any referendum on Palestine, because Palestine
is a house of Islam and not subject to any compromise," he said.
"I call upon Muslims everywhere to support the brothers in Palestine," he
said, mentioning armed Islamist militants, prisoners and their families.
Al-Zawahri, who has focused on political issues before in his tapes, also
discussed the campaign by a group of Egyptian judges for the independence of the
judiciary and the ongoing violence in Sudan's Darfur region.
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