BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 21 (UPI) -- The Arabic language al-Jazeera network Wednesday played an audiotape it said bore the voice of al-Qaida's No. 2 leader that calls on Muslims to attack embassies, interests, companies and employees of the United States, Britain, Australia and Norway.
In the broadcast, monitored in Beirut, Ayman al-Zawahiri reportedly said the West only understands violence and "protests, demonstrations and conferences" were futile Muslims should arm themselves to fight their "American and Jewish enemies."
"Demonstrations will not expel an occupying enemy and will not deter a stubborn tyrant," the voice on the tape said.
Referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, the voice said, "The crusaders and Jews only understand the language of killing and blood" as well as "destroyed interests ... and collapsed economy."
U.S. authorities have blamed the Sept. 11 attacks on 19 men with Middle Eastern names, who were also linked with al-Qaida. Several other attacks on Western interests in recent years, including suicide bombings last week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were blamed on the group.
Al-Zawahiri is considered second in command of al-Qaida behind Osama bin Laden, the wealthy Saudi dissident. U.S. forces have been searching for bin Laden in Afghanistan where he found refuge through the Taliban, the country's former strict Islamic rulers. His fate following the collapse of the Taliban is unknown.
Al-Zawahiri appealed to Muslims to "hit the embassies of America, Britain, Australia and Norway as well as their interests, companies and employees."
"Burn the land under their feet. Evict those criminals from your countries," he said. "Don't allow the Americans, British, Australians, Norwegians and other Crusaders -- the killers of your brothers in Iraq -- to live in your countries, enjoy their wealth and spread corruption."
He urged Muslims to take as an example the "19 of your brothers who attacked America with their planes in New York and Washington."
He said the United States was still suffering from the 9/11 attacks, which he described as "a message of its kind."
Addressing the Iraqi people, al-Zawahiri reminded them that Muslims "defeated the Crusaders several times before and we expelled them from our countries and sacred places."
"Know that you (Iraqi people) are not alone in the battle. Your struggling brothers are following up and watching your enemy," he said, referring to the "strugglers in Palestine, Afghanistan, Chechnya as well as in the heart of America and the West" who "are making those Crusaders taste death."
Al-Jazeera, which broadcast parts of the message it said was from al-Zawahiri, did not say how it received the tape.
Hani al-Sibai, a Muslim official from the London-based Al-Makrizi Center for Historical Studies, confirmed to al-Jazeera that "it is the voice of al-Zawahiri."
Al-Sibai expressed belief the tape was recorded after the attack on Iraq by coalition forces.
