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Al-Qaeda's Zawahiri Denounces Annapolis Conference

By Jeffrey Imm

Al-Qaeda's number 2, Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri, was reported to have released an audio message to Jihadist web sites denouncing the Annapolis Conference. This has been reported by Reuters, AP, SITE Institute, and Laura Mansfield.

In addition, Laura Mansfield is reporting that Jihadist web sites state that a second message will also be coming out, described as an interview with Zawahiri. SITE Institute has also issued a press release stating that this Zawahiri interview will be released as a second message.

SITE Institute reports that this Zawahiri audio message is 20 minutes long and is entitled "Annapolis - The Treason"; it was published by Al-Qaeda's media arm, As-Sahab. SITE further reports that Zawahiri called the conference a "betrayal" and was another instance of a "Zionist-Crusade" against Palestine, criticizing Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and all other conference attendees, stating that the Mujahideen will not abandon Palestine as an Islamic land, calling for Jihad to liberate Jerusalem, and calling on Palestinians to support Jihad and an Islamic Caliphate.

AP reports that the Zawahiri message included statements:
"The Annapolis meeting was held to turn Palestine into a Jewish state. " "The czar of Washington invited 16 Arab countries ... to sit in one room, at one table with the Israelis." AP also reports that the Zawahiri stated that the conference "witnessed the betrayal deals to sell Palestine."

Reuters reports that Zawahiri states in the message that:
"The Arab states and governments were present as false witnesses to the latest of the treacherous deals to sell Palestine". "Our Muslim brothers in Palestine, unite under the banner of Islam and on the road of God's jihad and reject these secular organizations that sold you out in Madrid and Oslo, in Camp David and Wye River, in Sharm al-Sheikh and Annapolis." "Our Muslim nation, this is a new conspiracy against Palestine and the abode of Islam, so stand with your brothers in Palestine ... and do not leave them alone in face of ... the compromising rulers and Crusader-Zionist aggression."

SITE Institute also reports that the Zawahiri message also condemned previous peace conferences on Palestine/Israel issues, and asked why the "Mufti of Saudi Arabia" did nothing about these. Moreover, SITE reports that Zawahiri calls for the Egyptian army not to support Palestinians being forced into Gaza area between Egypt and Israel. Regarding Algeria, SITE reports that Zawahiri addresses the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, without referencing Tuesday's bombings, and informs those Algerian representatives to the Annapolis conference that they are betraying Palestinians.

Laura Mansfield reported the release of the Zawahiri audio message and is working on a full translation of it. In addition, she reported that Jihadist web sites are stating that there will be a second message which will be an interview with Zawahiri.

Sources:

December 14, 2007 - Reuters: Zawahri calls Annapolis meeting a sell-out

December 14, 2007 - AP: Al-Qaida No. 2 blasts peace conference

December 14, 2007: SITE Institute: "Annapolis - The Treason" - An Audio Speech from Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri from As-Sahab Media

December 14, 2007 - Laura Mansfield: New message from Al Qaeda second-in-command Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri discusses the Annapolis conference