A clip from al-Qaeda’s message
The second-in-command of Islamic militant network al-Qaeda has called on Muslims to harm “criminal” America.
In a message purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda deputy accused US President-elect Barack Obama of betraying his Muslim roots.
He likened him to a “house slave” - who had chosen to align himself with the “enemies” of Islam.
Mr Obama has said stamping out al-Qaeda “once and for all” will be a top priority during his administration.
On Sunday, he said capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden was “critical” to US security.
He has also promised to bolster the US presence in Afghanistan - a policy that would fail, said the al-Qaeda deputy.
The US said the message did not signal any increased threat against America.
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 You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims, and pray the prayer of the Jews  Al-Qaeda message |
This is undoubtedly a message aimed at sustaining anti-American sentiment among Muslims in the face of Barack Obama’s election, says the BBC’s defence correspondent Rob Watson.
But it is a risky approach, our correspondent says.
Barack Obama is hugely popular world-wide and his colour and background make him a much tougher target to attack than President George W Bush in the eyes of a global audience, he says.
Tags: Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Barack Obama, Government, Osama Bin Laden, Politics, Terrorism, Terrorists, U.S.
