Zawahri says Muslims should fight NATO in Libya [View All]

[jakeXT]

Source: Reuters

DUBAI, April 15 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri has urged Muslims in North Africa to fight NATO forces in Libya, the SITE Intelligence Group reported on Friday.

The monitoring group said the video message by the group's second in command appeared to have been recorded before NATO and Western forces began military operations to support rebels against Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

"I want to direct the attention of our Muslim brothers in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and the rest of the Muslim countries, that if the Americans and the NATO forces enter Libya then their neighbours in Egypt and Tunisia and Algeria and the rest of the Muslim countries should rise up and fight both the mercenaries of Gaddafi and the rest of NATO," Zawahri said. (Reporting by Martina Fuchs; Editing by Andrew Hammond)

Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE73E0IU20110415

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What happened to ?

Islamist leaders and their contingent of followers represent a relatively small minority within the rebel cause. They have served the rebels' secular leadership with little friction. Their discipline and fighting experience is badly needed by the rebels' ragtag army.

Among his followers, Mr. Hasady has the reputation of a trained warrior who stood fearlessly at the front ranks of young protesters during the first days of the uprising.

And his discourse has become dramatically more pro-American, now that he stands in alliance with the West in a battle against Col. Gadhafi. "Our view is starting to change of the US," said Mr. Hasady. "If we hated the Americans 100 percent, today it is less than 50 percent. They have started to redeem themselves for their past mistakes by helping us to preserve the blood of our children."

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