(AKI) - Iran is accused of "collaborating" with the US in its occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, in a new video message released by the media arm of Al-Qaeda. The video entitled, 'Assessment of Seven Years of Crusades' was produced by the media arm, Al-Sahab, and features messages from Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda's deputy leader, and other commanders.Released three days before the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, the 90-minute video also attacks Lebanese, Pakistani and Afghan leaders.
According to the Arab television network, Al-Jazeera, al-Zawahiri speaks of the particular role of Iran and what he calls "the crusade campaign against Muslim countries" and the "Iranian-Crusade" alliance that enabled the US to occupy Iraq. "The Muslim leaders of Teheran collaborate with the Americans in the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, recognising the two collaborating governments that have left these countries," he says.
Criticising what he called "two faced" Iran in its ambiguous relationship with the US, the Egyptian doctor also criticises Iraqi Shia clerics and the Lebanese Shia militant group, Hezbollah.
"Hezbollah has not obtained any victory in Lebanon against Israel," he says. "The bizarre and ridiculous thing is that Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah leader) celebrates this victory every year, but we ask: victory for what?
"For making them (Israel) retreat 30 kilometres, for the demilitarisation of the region and the acceptance of 15,000 crusader soldiers (referring to UNIFIL) that separate the mujahadeen from Israel?"
Egyptian-born Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, al-Qaeda commander some believe to have been killed in an air raid in Pakistan last month, also appears in the video. He criticises former President Pervez Musharraf, whose photo appears engulfed in flames. "The traitor agent Musharraf betrayed the Islamic nation, aligning himself with the crusaders that fight the mujahadeen and Islam and the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan. For him there was no other way out other than leaving the presidency."
The video calls for a continued Jihad or struggle to liberate Palestine and includes a message from Abdel Malik Droukedel, leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, that criticises the opening of US bases in Algeria. The video closes with a message from militant preacher and Al-Qaeda recruiter Abu Yahya al-Libi that speaks of the situation in Somalia and Chechnya.
The new footage released by Al-Jazeera is expected to be distributed on Islamic forums to reinforce the strength of Al-Qaeda around the world on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.