Al Qaeda’s Zawahri urges Muslim aid to quake victims

By Yara Bayoumy

DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s second in command, Ayman
al-Zawahri, urged Muslims in a video broadcast on Sunday to
help Pakistan’s earthquake victims even though its government
was an “agent” of the United States.

“I call on all Muslims and Islamic charity organizations in
particular to go to Pakistan and give a helping hand to the
victims there,” a bespectacled Zawahri said in the tape aired
on Al Jazeera. Wearing a white turban and seated beside an
assault rifle, Zawahri denounced Pakistani President Pervez
Musharraf.

“We all know that Musharraf’s government is an agent of the
United States but despite that I call on all Muslims to run to
the help of their brothers in Pakistan,” he said.

“We all know the United States is against the activities of
Islamic charities,” said Zawahri, the Egyptian right-hand man
of Osama bin Laden. he is wanted by Cairo for anti-government
attacks.

The tape appeared to have been recorded on October 9, as
Zawahri said the earthquake had occurred the day before.

U.S. intelligence was studying the videotape but results
were not expected until later in the week, said an official,
who spoke on condition of anonymity because the subject
involved classified counterterrorism operations.

Pakistan is a key ally in the U.S. war against terrorism
and has launched frequent raids against al Qaeda militants and
tribal supporters.

Washington has accused a number of Islamic charities of
funneling funds to Muslim militants.

Zawahri and bin Laden, believed to be hiding in the border
regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, have eluded capture since
the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, carried
out by al Qaeda.

The October 8 earthquake has killed more than 53,000 in
northern Pakistan with more than 75,000 seriously injured.

Zawahri last appeared in a videotape aired on Al Jazeera on
September 19, in which he said al Qaeda carried out the July
suicide bombings in London to strike at “British arrogance.”

(additional reporting by David Morgan in Washington)