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Al-Qaeda has chosen Ayman al-Zawahiri as its new leader following Osama bin Laden's death in a US commando raid last month, according to a statement apparently issued by the movementââ¬â¢s general command.
The Egyptian surgeon was al-Qaedaââ¬â¢s number two for more than a decade and was widely expected to take on the top role when bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy Seals in Pakistan.
ââ¬ÅThe general command of al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group,ââ¬Â said the statement which was posted on an Islamist website.
A group statement later said: We seek with the aid of God to call for the religion of truth and incite our nation to fight ... by carrying out jihad against the apostate invaders ... with their head being crusader America and its servant Israel, and whoever supports them.
Al-Zawahiri, 59, issued a eulogy for bin Laden last week saying al-Qaedaââ¬â¢s leader had terrified the US when he was alive and would continue to do so in death.
He appeared in a white Arab robe and turban, a Kalashnikov at his side, in the 28-minute video posted on jihadist online forum.
ââ¬ÅWe will pursue the jihad until we expel the invaders from Muslim lands,ââ¬Â he said.
He is the son of an upper middle class Egyptian family of doctors and scholars but went on to found Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which eventually merged with al-Qaeda in 1998.
Today he carries a $25m (ã15m) price on his head and is believed to run al-Qaeda operations from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
Rest of article including video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ri-chosen-to-lead-terrorist-organisation.html
The Egyptian surgeon was al-Qaedaââ¬â¢s number two for more than a decade and was widely expected to take on the top role when bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy Seals in Pakistan.
ââ¬ÅThe general command of al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group,ââ¬Â said the statement which was posted on an Islamist website.
A group statement later said: We seek with the aid of God to call for the religion of truth and incite our nation to fight ... by carrying out jihad against the apostate invaders ... with their head being crusader America and its servant Israel, and whoever supports them.
Al-Zawahiri, 59, issued a eulogy for bin Laden last week saying al-Qaedaââ¬â¢s leader had terrified the US when he was alive and would continue to do so in death.
He appeared in a white Arab robe and turban, a Kalashnikov at his side, in the 28-minute video posted on jihadist online forum.
ââ¬ÅWe will pursue the jihad until we expel the invaders from Muslim lands,ââ¬Â he said.
He is the son of an upper middle class Egyptian family of doctors and scholars but went on to found Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which eventually merged with al-Qaeda in 1998.
Today he carries a $25m (ã15m) price on his head and is believed to run al-Qaeda operations from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
Rest of article including video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ri-chosen-to-lead-terrorist-organisation.html
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