This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6289195.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Al-Qaeda deputy 'mocks Bush plan' | Al-Qaeda deputy 'mocks Bush plan' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Al-Qaeda's deputy leader has mocked US President George W Bush's plan to increase Iraq troop numbers in a video message, according to a US website. | Al-Qaeda's deputy leader has mocked US President George W Bush's plan to increase Iraq troop numbers in a video message, according to a US website. |
| In the tape, apparently intercepted by US-based terrorism think-tank Site, Ayman al-Zawahiri challenged Mr Bush to send "the entire army" to Iraq. | In the tape, apparently intercepted by US-based terrorism think-tank Site, Ayman al-Zawahiri challenged Mr Bush to send "the entire army" to Iraq. |
| The Iraqi insurgents would "bury 10 armies like yours", he said. | The Iraqi insurgents would "bury 10 armies like yours", he said. |
| Earlier this month, Mr Bush announced the deployment of over 20,000 more troops in a bid to end the violence. | Earlier this month, Mr Bush announced the deployment of over 20,000 more troops in a bid to end the violence. |
| Site - a Washington-based organisation that analyses militant networks - posted the video and transcript on its website, but did not say how it obtained it. | |
| In the tape - 14 minutes of footage with English subtitles - Zawahiri said that Mr Bush's strategy in Iraq was going to fail. | |
| "I ask him, why send 20,000 (troops) only - why not send 50,000 or 100,000?" he said. | |
| "Aren't you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops' dead bodies?" | |
| He said that al-Qaeda and the Taleban were regaining control in Afghanistan, and called on all Muslims to bear arms or support those bearing arms to defend Islam. | |
| The message is the first apparent reaction by al-Qaeda to Mr Bush's planned "surge" in Iraq. | |
| On 5 January, Zawahiri appeared in an audiotape posted on a website urging Somalia's Islamist militias to carry out attacks against Ethiopian troops. |