Alleged al-Zawahri tape praises fighters in Afghanistan

DUBAI - Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, praised Islamic fighters in Afghanistan, according to an internet audio tape posted on Friday, a day after Osama bin Laden warned of attacks in America.

The speaker on the latest tape sounded like the Egyptian-born Zawahri. The little-known website which carried the tape said it was new but this could not be verified.

"I am honoured to recite this jihadist poem," he said, praising mujahideen fighters.

"We shall remain true to our oath (with the Afghan mujahideen)."

The message emerged one day after bin Laden, al Qaeda's leader, said the group was preparing attacks in the United States but was open to a conditional truce with the Americans, according to an audio tape attributed to him.

In his 17 minute-tape, Zawahri praised an Islamist Afghan poet, Mohebullah Kandahari: "The owner of the sword and pen, who carried both a machine gun and the Koran, known in scholarly circles... and who could be seen in jihadi arenas from the time of the Russian communist attack on Afghanistan until the crusader raid (led by the United States in 2001)."

In Washington, a US official who asked not to be identified said of the Zawahri tape: "We're aware of it and we're examining it."

It was not clear whether the tape was made after a US air strike in Pakistan last week, which officials said was aimed at Zawahri and in which Pakistani intelligence sources said "a few militants" had been killed.

The last tape attributed to Zawahri was issued earlier this month. He said US President George W Bush's plans to withdraw troops from Iraq meant Washington had been defeated by the Muslims.

Bin Laden and Zawahri have eluded capture since US-led forces toppled Afghanistan's Taleban government in 2001 after al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

- REUTERS