America's back broken in Iraq, claims Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri says hundreds of suicide bombers have "broken America's back" in three years of war in Iraq.

The statement has been made in a videotape posted on the internet.

The video comes just days after the broadcast of an audio tape from Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and a rare video from the group's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"Al Qaeda in Iraq alone has carried out 800 martyrdom operations in three years, besides the victories of the other mujahideen," Zawahri said.

"This is what has broken the back of America in Iraq."

Many thousands of Iraqis have been killed in a relentless insurgent campaign of suicide and car bombings that mostly target US soldiers and Iraq's fledgling security forces.

Nearly 2,400 American soldiers have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, many by roadside bombs.

"America, Britain and their allies have achieved nothing but losses, disasters and misfortunes," the Egyptian Islamic militant leader said in the video.

In the video, Zawahri also calls for the overthrow of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who has survived several Al Qaeda-inspired assassination attempts since allying himself with the US.

Pakistan has captured or killed hundreds of Al Qaeda members.

"The West, which claims to support democracy ... is encouraging Musharraf to stay in power by any means after he demonstrated his aptitude at killing Muslims," he said in the video, which carries English subtitles.

"I call on the Pakistani people to stand with Islam against the Zionist-crusader assault ... and topple this bribe-taking treacherous criminal."

Zawahri and bin Laden are believed to be hiding in restive tribal borders areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"Musharraf is fanning the flames of civil war in Pakistan on behalf of America in Waziristan and Baluchistan," he said, referring to areas where the Pakistani Government has fought tribal forces with ties to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taleban.

"He is inviting the Pakistani Army to fight its own people and brothers and turn a blind eye to the Indian threat."

In his last internet message in March, Zawahri called for attacks on the West, urging similar strikes as those against New York, London and Madrid.

- REUTERS