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Al-Zawahri mocks Bush over terrorism war
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-31 08:31
Al-Qaeda's number two Ayman al-Zawahiri said he survived a controversial US
raid targeting him in Pakistan, according to a video broadcast on the Arab
satellite channel Al-Jazeera.
A January 13 attack on Damadola, a remote Pakistani village bordering
Afghanistan, killed 18 civilians and was said by US intelligence sources to have
targeted Zawahiri, the chief ideologue of Osama bin Laden's network.
"US planes launched a raid against the village of Damadola... under the
pretext of wanting to kill me and four of my companions," Zawahiri said, wearing
a white turban and robe.
A video image from footage broadcast by the
Qatari news channel al-Jazeera television shows al-Qaeda number two Ayman
al-Zawahiri giving a speech at undisclosed location, on January 6, 2006.
[AFP] | "The entire world has discovered the
extent of the American lies and of their ruin and of their savagery in their war
against Islam and Muslims," he said.
Addressing US President George W. Bush, Zawahiri was defiant.
Zawahiri did not say if he was in the house targeted or elsewhere during the
raid.
"I will find death when God has decided it according to His will, but if my
hour has not come, neither you nor any force on earth... could speed up my hour
(of death) by one second," he said, visibly comfortable and in good health.
The Egyptian-born Zawahiri sported his habitual graying beard and wore
eyeglasses in the video, in which he appeared against a black backdrop.
"Bush, do you know where to find me? I am among the masses of Muslims,
rejoicing in their support, their attention, their generosity, their protection
and their participation in jihad until we conquer you with the help and power of
God."
The attack, for which Islamabad did not give permission, prompted the
Pakistani government to lodge an official protest with the United States.
The raid also triggered nationwide protests and calls for the expulsion of
the US ambassador.
President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday on the sidelines of the annual World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that Pakistan did not give permission for
the air strike, nor was it asked to do so.
But Zawahiri claimed that the raid was carried out in collusion with the
Pakistani president, "the traitor and his security services, the slaves of
Crusaders and Jews."
Pakistani officials said that four to five foreign militants were killed in
the missile attack, reportedly including a bomb maker with a five million dollar
US reward on his head and Zawahiri's son-in-law.
Previous reports had said Zawahiri himself was not thought to have been in
the house targeted by the raid. Locals insist that only civilians were killed
and that there were no Al-Qaeda members among them.
However, officials in the Bajur tribal agency have said that the strike was
aimed at a group of militants gathering at a house for a dinner.
Islamabad says the CIA was behind the attack but Washington has yet to
officially acknowledge that its spy agency was involved.
Zawahiri also graphically criticized the rejection by the United States of a
truce proposed by bin Laden in a tape on January 19, his first message for over
a year, saying it spelled doom for Americans.
"Bush and his gang want to drain off your blood and ruin your fortunes with
losing initiatives, taking you towards confrontation with the Muslims to
increase their fortunes."
The refusal to accept bin Laden's offer meant the American people were
destined for "a future coloured by blood, the smoke of explosions and the
shadows of terror."
"You, the American mother, if the defence department tells you that your son
has arrived in a coffin, remember Bush. You, the British mother, if the ministry
of defence tells you your husband is coming back paralysed, remember (Prime
Minister Tony) Blair," he said.
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