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Al Qaeda's Zawahri urges Muslim aid to quake victims

Posted on: Sunday, 23 October 2005, 15:19 CDT

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)

Source: REUTERS

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