Brother of al-Qaida leader seeks truce

• Tweet

CAIRO, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The brother of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has proposed a long-term truce with the United States.

Mohamed al-Zawahiri made the offer on the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States that triggered a worldwide hunt for leaders of the terrorist group, Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm reported.

Zawahiri said the truce would last for 10 years during which time the United States would not interfere in the affairs of Muslims and release detainees.

In return, al-Qaida would not target U.S. and other Western interests.

He claimed al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden made a similar offer in 2004.

Zawahiri said the truce could be extended if both sides agreed.

Ayman al-Zawahiri became the leader of al-Qaida after bin Laden was killed by a team of U.S. Navy SEALs in May 2011.

Mohamed al-Zawahiri was released in 2011 from an Egyptian prison where he had been held since 1999.