BAQUBA, Iraq, June 24 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida's second-in-command has released a videotape on which he praised the recently killed al-Qaida in Iraq leader and condemned Iraqi and U.S. leaders.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, a doctor from a wealthy family and No. 2 to Osama bin Laden, was taped in front of a picture of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq June 7 by U.S. bombs.
CNN reports the video, which aired on Al-Jazeera, features Zawahiri calling Zarqawi a martyr and warning that every Muslim killed by U.S. or ally troops will be avenged.
He called Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki a traitor to Islam and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad a traitor to his home country Afghanistan.
He warned that his supporters would continue to fight the U.S. coalition no matter how many were killed.
