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Al Qaeda's Zawahiri Calls for Attacks Against Western Interests in North Africa, Overthrow of Leaders

By Jeffrey Imm

On November 3, Al Qaeda's number 2 Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri called for attacks on Western interests throughout North Africa, and called for the overthrow of leaders of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

Per AP report, the latest Internet audio message from Al-Zawahiri was a 28-minute audiotape called "Unity of the Ranks".

Per AFP report, Zawahiri stated in the November 3 message:
"Islamic nation of resistance and jihad (holy war) in the Maghreb, see how your children are uniting under the banner of Islam and jihad against the United States, France and Spain".

AFP reported that the Zawahiri also stated:
"Support... your children in fighting our enemies and cleansing our lands of their slaves Kadhafi, Zine El Abidine, Bouteflika and Mohammed VI".

This was an apparent reference to the Libyan president Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and Moroccan King Mohammed VIl.

AP reports that Zawahiri also harshly condemned Libyan president Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, and announced that Libyan Islamic Fighting Group was joining ranks with Al Qaeda:
"The Islamic nation is witnessing a blessed step ... The brothers are escalating the confrontation against the enemies of Islam: Gadhafi and his masters, the Washington crusaders" and "Tell the dogs of Gadhafi, the agents of the international crusaders, our brothers will confront your evil".

Al Jazeera reports that Zawahiri also stated:
"Honorable members of the Fighting Islamic Group in Libya announce that they are joining the al-Qaeda group to continue the march of their brothers". Moreover, Zawahiri presented Abu al-Laith, who appeared to be the leader of the new Libyan wing, and Abu al-Laith stated: "We announce we are joining al-Qaeda as loyal soldiers".

AP reports that the Zawahiri message also included audio from Abu Laith al-Libi, a Libyan Al Qaeda commander in Afghanistan, condemning Gaddafi:
"He is the tyranny of Libya and is dragging the country to the swamp" and "After long years, he (Gadhafi) discovered suddenly that America is not an enemy ... and is turning Libya into another crusader base".

On another subject, it was reported that Zawahiri urged Fatah organizations in the Palestinian territories to join other Jihadist groups: "I urge ... Fatah and al-Aqsa [Martyrs] Brigades to confront their leadership which turned their organization into a branch of the CIA and the Mossad".

On October 23, Evan Kohlmann and the NEFA foundation provided a report of the LIFG: "Dossier: Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).

Sources:

November 3, 2007 - AFP: Zawahiri urges attacks on Western targets in north Africa

November 3, 2007 - AP: Al-Qaida's No. 2 threatens Libya, accuses Gadhafi of being an enemy of Islam

November 3, 2007 - Al Jazeera: Zawahri: Libya group joins al-Qaeda