Yemeni al-Qaida vows revenge on U.S.

SANAA, Yemen, May 11 (UPI) -- A leader of al-Qaida's Yemeni branch vowed Wednesday to avenge Osama bin Laden's death and make America regret killing him.

In a message posted on Islamist Web sites, Nasir al-Wahishi of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula warned: "What is waiting for you is far greater and more dangerous, and you will then count your regrets, wishing for the days of Osama," ABC News reported.

"For those who celebrated the killing of our sheik," he said, "we tell them: We will see if you celebrate what the sons and students of the sheik will send you."

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other U.S. officials have called AQAP al-Qaida's most dangerous wing.

The group has claimed responsibility for the Christmas 2009 underwear bombing and last fall's sending of bombs aboard FedEx and UPS planes.

Last week, a U.S. drone attack in southern Yemen attempted and failed to kill AQAP leader Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen targeted by President Barack Obama for assassination.

Wahishi also threatened U.S "allies who celebrated the death of bin Laden, including the Yemeni and Saudi governments."