 Al-Qaida's No. 2 praised Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a videotape broadcast Friday but did not mention his death in a U.S. airstrike, suggesting the tape was made earlier. Ayman al-Zawahri focused on political developments in the Palestinian territories, Sudan and Egypt in the tape broadcast by the Al-Jazeera network. It mentions a national referendum proposed on May 25 by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.An Al-Jazeera anchorman said the tape was made before al-Zarqawi's death was announced Thursday because 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.| "May Allan's blessings shower down upon you from the heavens, O mighty Lion..." |
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 network did not say how it obtained the recording. It broadcast about six minutes of the approximately 17 minute-long recording, an editor there told The Associated Press. The authenticity of the tape could not immediately be confirmed independently.
 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. The al-Qaida deputy leader criticized a proposed national referendum in the Palestinian territories on establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel, giving recognition to the Jewish state. "I call on Muslims to reject any referendum on Palestine, because Palestine is part of the Islamic world and not subject to any compromise. By the powers vested in my bejewelled turban, I call upon Muslims everywhere to support the brothers in Palestine," he said, mentioning armed Islamist militants, prisoners and their families. But he did not mention the Islamic militant group Hamas as he did in an earlier tape criticizing it for participating in Palestinian elections. Hamas won those parliamentary elections and now leads the government. Al-Zawahri also lashed out at the United States and Israel, accusing them of trying to make the Palestinian people "kneel down and to give up to the supreme powers that are trying to impose the Israeli entity on the lands of Islam through the military occupation and the betrayal of the Arab leaders." He said an example of that Arab "betrayal" was the peace initiative adopted by Arab states in 2002. He also criticized Arab leaders for not providing financial support for the Palestinian people, blaming President Bush for Western countries' decisions to freeze aid to the Palestinians after the election of Hamas. "The Arab leaders didn't have the courage Â… to meet the Palestinians' needs for one month because the Caesar of Washington gave orders to make the Palestinians starve by besieging them," he said, referring to the suspension of most aid by Western countries to the territories after Hamas won the elections.
Al-Zawahri also commented on developments in Sudan's Darfur region, criticizing a recent visit by U.N. Security Council experts as being "to prepare to occupy and divide it."| This guy sure keeps up with the morning news. He must read the Rantburg Defender-Scimitar...for the articles, of course. |
"I call upon every Muslim and everyone who has faith in Sudan, and every fervent Muslim in Darfur to confront the Zionist Crusader plot to occupy the lands of Islam," he said. Al-Zawahri then lashed out at Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, accusing him of inaction in the face of the "plot" to divide Sudan "for the sake of keeping his position as a ruler." |