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Al-Qaeda vows to hurt Obama's US | Al-Qaeda vows to hurt Obama's US |
(20 minutes later) | |
The second-in-command of Islamic militant network al-Qaeda has called on Muslims to harm "criminal" America. | |
In a message purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda deputy accused US President-elect Barack Obama of betraying his Muslim roots. | In a message purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda deputy accused US President-elect Barack Obama of betraying his Muslim roots. |
He likened him to a "house slave" - who had chosen to align himself with the "enemies of Islam". | He likened him to a "house slave" - who had chosen to align himself with the "enemies of Islam". |
Mr Obama has said stamping out al-Qaeda "once and for all" will be a top priority during his administration. | Mr Obama has said stamping out al-Qaeda "once and for all" will be a top priority during his administration. |
On Sunday, he said capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden was "critical" to US security. | On Sunday, he said capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden was "critical" to US security. |
He has also promised to bolster the US presence in Afghanistan - a policy that would fail, said the al-Qaeda deputy. | He has also promised to bolster the US presence in Afghanistan - a policy that would fail, said the al-Qaeda deputy. |
'Trespassing crusader' | 'Trespassing crusader' |
Zawahiri, an Egyptian by birth, is often referred to as Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man and the chief ideologue of al-Qaeda. | Zawahiri, an Egyptian by birth, is often referred to as Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man and the chief ideologue of al-Qaeda. |
The audio message, which ran with photographic stills and some video footage, appeared on militant websites. | The audio message, which ran with photographic stills and some video footage, appeared on militant websites. |
Mr Obama's election did not mean that US policy towards the Muslim world had changed, Ayman al-Zawahiri said, according to the 11-minute message. | Mr Obama's election did not mean that US policy towards the Muslim world had changed, Ayman al-Zawahiri said, according to the 11-minute message. |
He warned Mr Obama of failure if he followed Bush administration policies. | He warned Mr Obama of failure if he followed Bush administration policies. |
And the change of leadership in the US did not mean that America should be perceived differently, he said. | And the change of leadership in the US did not mean that America should be perceived differently, he said. |
"America, the criminal, trespassing crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it in order for it to come to its senses," he said. | "America, the criminal, trespassing crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it in order for it to come to its senses," he said. |
Zawahiri also criticised Mr Obama - whose father is Muslim - of betraying the Islamic world. | Zawahiri also criticised Mr Obama - whose father is Muslim - of betraying the Islamic world. |
"You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand with the enemies of Muslims," he said. | "You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand with the enemies of Muslims," he said. |
Mr Obama was not an "honourable black American" like Malcolm X, he said, but an "abeed al-beit" - a word that translates as house slave but was rendered "house negro" in the message's English subtitles. | Mr Obama was not an "honourable black American" like Malcolm X, he said, but an "abeed al-beit" - a word that translates as house slave but was rendered "house negro" in the message's English subtitles. |
The audio was accompanied by footage of a speech by Malcolm X in which he distinguished between "field negroes" who hated their white masters and "house negroes", who he said were more docile. | The audio was accompanied by footage of a speech by Malcolm X in which he distinguished between "field negroes" who hated their white masters and "house negroes", who he said were more docile. |
On Sunday, in his first television interview since his 4 November election win, Mr Obama reiterated his commitment to shift more US troops to war-torn Afghanistan. | On Sunday, in his first television interview since his 4 November election win, Mr Obama reiterated his commitment to shift more US troops to war-torn Afghanistan. |