TIMELINE: Messages attributed to Zawahri

Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:46am EST
 
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(Reuters) - Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, has accused Arab leaders in a new tape of betraying the Palestinians by attending the Middle East peace conference in Annapolis and urged Muslims to keep fighting.

At least 50 messages have been broadcast by Osama bin Laden, Zawahri and their allies since the September 11, 2001, attacks. The last message from bin Laden was in late November.

Following is a chronology of major statements attributed to Zawahri in 2007.

Jan 22 - Zawahri mocks President George W. Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

Feb 13 - Zawahri says Bush's troop build-up in Iraq is a gamble bound to fail. He vows reprisals against Arab and Muslim countries supporting U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

March 11 - Zawahri says the leadership of Islamist group Hamas has surrendered to the Jews most of Palestine to keep heading the Palestinian government.

May 23 - Zawahri eulogizes Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah, killed in Afghanistan earlier in the month and urges his followers to pursue his fight against U.S.-led forces.

June 25 - Zawahri urges all Muslims to support Hamas in its battles with President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel.

July 4 - Zawahri talks about unity in jihad and calls for the overthrow of "corrupt" Muslim governments in a new video.

July 10 - Zawahri threatens more attacks on Britain two weeks after failed bombings in London and Glasgow.

July 11 - Zawahri in an Internet recording, calls for revenge over the Pakistani government assault on an Islamabad mosque that killed more than 70 Islamists.

Dec 14 - Zawahri says in audio recording that Arab states and governments were present as false witnesses to the latest of the treacherous deals to sell Palestine. Zawahri denounces the roles of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, saying they were serving Israel and U.S. interests in attending the conference at Annapolis.

(Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit;)

 

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