By Agencies

Share Link:

Saed Elshari, al-Qaeda's number two in the Arabian Peninsula, has called for attacks against US interests "everywhere".

The messsage was contained in an audio message released on Monday and posted on a website often used by Islamist groups.

Elshari also congratulated Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader, for the bombing bid on a US plane on Christmas Day.

"American and Crusader interests are everywhere and their agents are moving everywhere," Elshari said.

"Attack them and eliminate as many enemies as you can."

Elshari added: "I swear to God, we will open up for them doors of hell on the ground, which will be the key to our victory, where we will cut the tails of the crusaders; destroy the dreams of crusade and ruin the desires of the Jews in the region."

'PR tape'

US authorities have detained Farooq after he allegedly attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner using explosives stitched into his underwear on December 25.

"I swear to God, we will open up for them doors of hell on the ground, which will be the key to our victory"

Saed Elshari, al-Qaeda's number two in the Arabian Peninsula

Our correspondent added that Elshahri "denied reports that emerged weeks ago that most of the leadership [al-Qaeda's] in the Arab Peninsula was killed in attacks by the end of December".

"He [Eshari] used the audiotape to tell the followers and people across the Muslim world that you have to be careful about what he described [as] tactics by the crusaders. Of course,  he's referring to American troops in this part of the world," said Ahelbarra.

Elshari was released in 2007 from the US Navy's detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to his native Saudi Arabia.

Arab states criticised

There he graduated from a "rehabilitation" programme before fleeing the country to join anti-government fighters in Yemen.

He quickly rose to become al-Qaeda's second-in-command in the Arabian Peninsula.

In the audiotape, Elshahri accused Saudi Arabia and Egypt of "preserving the interests of Jews and Christians" by supplying them with oil and allowing them access to the waters surrounding the Peninsula.

He accused Arab states of helping "crusaders" and "Jews" to "wage a war on Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula."

Elshahri also said the US and other international powers are "indirectly waging war on several fronts" in Yemen by collecting intelligence with unmanned drones, "turning Muslims against each other ... and distorting the image of the mujahideen" fighters.

He praised Somalia's anti-government fighters for fighting "the leader of the international infidels, America," and called on Yemeni tribes to "stand up like men," and not to co-operate with those "who conspire against Muslims".