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Al-Qaeda brands Bush 'a failure' | Al-Qaeda brands Bush 'a failure' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Al-Qaeda's number two has called US President George W Bush a "liar" who is losing his war against the network. | |
In a video published on the Internet, Ayman al-Zawahiri called Mr Bush a "lying failure" and said al-Qaeda was stronger than ever. | |
The message follows a video issued for the anniversary of 9/11, in which Zawahiri said Western forces were doomed in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
In the new message, he also spoke about Darfur and attacked Pope Benedict XVI. | In the new message, he also spoke about Darfur and attacked Pope Benedict XVI. |
The Egyptian militant, who is seen as the group's ideologue, has eluded capture despite a $25m bounty on his head. | |
'Losses' | 'Losses' |
In the latest video, Zawahiri said: "We have gained more strength and we are more insistent on martyrdom. | |
"Bush, oh failure and liar, why don't you be courageous for once and confront your people and tell them the truth about your losses in Iraq and Afghanistan." | |
He urged Muslims to fight a holy war in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur against "crusaders" masked as United Nations troops. | |
He also called Pope Benedict XVI a "charlatan" because of his remarks on Islam, Reuters reported. | He also called Pope Benedict XVI a "charlatan" because of his remarks on Islam, Reuters reported. |
"This charlatan accused Islam of being incompatible with rationality while forgetting that his own Christianity is unacceptable to a sensible mind," he said. | "This charlatan accused Islam of being incompatible with rationality while forgetting that his own Christianity is unacceptable to a sensible mind," he said. |
The Pope caused controversy earlier this month when he quoted a medieval text which said Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only evil. | The Pope caused controversy earlier this month when he quoted a medieval text which said Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only evil. |
He expressed regret following angry reactions from throughout the Muslim world to the words in a speech made in southern Germany. | He expressed regret following angry reactions from throughout the Muslim world to the words in a speech made in southern Germany. |