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Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaida's second in command, speaking in a video released in 2006. (AP) Last update - 19:41 22/04/2008 Qaida No. 2: Hezbollah started rumor that Israel planned 9/11 By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service Tags: Ayman al-Zawahri, Hamas  Osama bin Laden's deputy Al-Zawahri on Tuesday accused Hezbollah's Al-Manar television of starting a conspiracy theory that Israel was behind the 2001 suicide airplane hijacking against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "The purpose of this lie is clear - [to suggest] that there are no heroes among the Sunnis who can hurt America as no else did in history. Iranian media snapped up this lie and repeated it," he said in a lengthy audiotape posted on an Islamic web site. The tape could not be immediately confirmed as authentic, but the voice sounded like past audiotapes from the terror leader. Advertisement With reference to Hamas' apparent readiness to agree to a peace agreement with Israel, pending a referendum, Al-Zawahri expressed scathing criticism, branding it was a violation of Islamic law. "As for peace agreements with Israel, they [Hamas] spoke of putting it to a referendum despite considering it a breach of the Sharia [Islamic law]," Al-Zawahri said. "How can they put a matter that violates Sharia to a referendum?" he added in the message, the second in a two-part series to answer about 100 questions put to him via online militant forums. Al-Zawahri also called on Sunni militants in Lebanon to attack UN peacekeepers, whom he labeled "the invading Crusaders who pretend to be peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and not to accept resolution 1701." The Al-Qaida leader was referring to the UN resolution that ended Second Lebanon War between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the summer of 2006. A 13,500-strong UN force, known as UNIFIL, monitors the truce in southern Lebanon. "The road is long but they have to break the siege imposed on them and to shove their way to Palestine," al-Zawahri said, referring to militants in Lebanon. Lebanese Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat told Al-Arabiya television that al-Zawahri's comments were "very dangerous and a bad omen for the Lebanese." In the message, Zawahri also warned that Al-Qaida still has plans to target Western countries involved in the Iraq war. Asked by one of his followers if the terror group still had plans to attack Western countries that participated in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and subsequent war, al-Zawahri said "my answer is: Yes! We think that any country joined aggression on Muslims must be deterred." Asked if there are any women in Al-Qaida, the terror leader answered simply "no." The tape Tuesday was the second time that al-Zawahri has answered the more than 900 questions submitted on extremist Internet sites by Al-Qaida supporters, critics and journalists in December. In a first response earlier this month, al-Zawahri rejected the criticism of attacks by the terror network's followers, which have killed thousands, and maintained that the group does not kill innocent people. Al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the Sept. 11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York and Washington in 2001, while its affiliates in Iraq, Afghanistan and Algeria regularly set off bombs in crowded urban areas that have taken thousands of lives. In another answer Tuesday, al-Zawahri said it was against Islamic religious law for any Muslim to live permanently in a Western country because in doing so they would have permanent stay there under the laws of the infidels. Al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, announced in December that al-Zawahri would take questions from the public posted on Islamic militant Web sites and would respond as soon as possible. Queries were submitted on the main Islamist Web site until the cutoff date of Jan. 16. After the deadline, the questions disappeared from the site. According to the questions, self-proclaimed Al-Qaida supporters appeared to be as much in the dark about the terror network's operations and intentions as Western analysts and intelligence agencies. The questioners appeared uncertain whether Al-Qaida's central leadership directly controls the multiple, small militant groups around the Middle East that work in its name, or whether those groups operate on their own. Some asked if Al-Qaida had a long-term strategy, while others wanted advice about conducting Islamic holy war. Related articles: Al-Qaida No. 2 vows to strike Jews worldwide CIA chief: Al-Qaida recruiting 'Western'-looking fighters Al-Qaida: We nabbed 2 Austrians in response to IDF Gaza actions Al-Qaida's No. 2: Annapolis summit was betrayal of Palestinians Bookmark to del.icio.us   Survivors and pioneers Yad Vashem exhibit shows how Holocaust survivors helped shape Israel's identity Researching bacon Lahav's pig breeding gained widespread notoriety because of its legal loophole.   1.   Al Q will fight to the last Hamasnik 14:49  |  x-ray 22/04/08   2.   Al-Quaida,Hamas,Hezbollah all a bunch of wimps 14:54  |  Sam 22/04/08   3.   whats wrong w/this picture? 15:18  |  hmmm? 22/04/08   4.   Al Zawahiri 15:23  |  Mark 22/04/08   5.   Al-Qaida policy is cold blood murder 16:22  |  Abu Yusuf 22/04/08   6.   #3 Excellent Analysis. It is done by the CIA 17:32  |  Mark 22/04/08   7.   hmmmm #3 -- good eye, not sure what you mean though 17:34  |  bbl 22/04/08   8.   Not that there`s anything wrong with that ... 17:39  |  Big gay Al...`Queda 22/04/08   9.   Damage Control PR 19:05  |  Peter North 22/04/08   10.   Al Zawahiri 19:05  |  Mark 22/04/08   11.   Abu Yusuf...no reason for Hezbollah to exist either 19:11  |  Lynn 22/04/08   12.   Fighting among Muslims for prominence shows Islam self destructiv 19:14  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/04/08   13.   Al Zawahiri 19:20  |  peter 22/04/08   14.   Qaida No. 2 is really funny, his position is threatened by me 19:21  |  Qaida No. 10 22/04/08   15.   hmmm? #3 WHat? It is an hexagram! 19:25  |  Gaston 22/04/08   16.   That can`t be true 19:57  |  William 22/04/08   17.   Gaston#15 - the fight is made up of idiots with little knowledge 20:12  |  William 22/04/08   18.   Iran and Al-Qaida are competing who directs Hamas 20:25  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/04/08   19.   Don`t Play With This Stuff 3000 Americans Dead! 20:34  |  Yosemite 22/04/08   20.   A REAL #2........ sh?*+"@& 20:36  |  LJF-CANADA 22/04/08   21.   Most amusing 20:48  |  Mark Lincoln 22/04/08   22.   One of his ideas is good 21:14  |  rick 22/04/08   23.   21 Mark Lincoln,the story is that the israelis knew in advance 21:22  |  lakshmi 22/04/08   24.   mark licoln? check this out 21:53  |  haaretz link 22/04/08   25.   Doing a "No. 2" 22:17  |  JP 22/04/08   26.   I thought Netanyahu started that rumor 22:31  |  Natallie Durson 22/04/08   27.   its the oil... 22:42  |  watcher 22/04/08   28.   Rumor........American Style 22:46  |  Jack Paulden 22/04/08   29.   #23 For BS Natallie 22:53  |  Urani Diot 22/04/08   30.   al qaida and hezbollah have the same ideology 23:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/04/08   31.   one question for suicide recruiters 23:23  |  Jon 22/04/08   32.   Gosh, this makes all those Israel blamers even more dumb, no? 23:26  |  Joe Sittizen 22/04/08   33.   lakshmi#23 - apparently the Israelis run the US government 23:37  |  William 22/04/08   34.   Haaretz link#24 - blindly believing 23:44  |  William 22/04/08   35.   #26 Natallie Durson 23:50  |  Sarah 22/04/08   36.   Equality? 00:32  |  Motic 23/04/08   37.   Hindu or Muslim? 00:35  |  Joseph 23/04/08   38.   @Natallie Durson 01:54  |  Outsider Analyst 23/04/08   39.   Hezbollah ia a big lier all know that 02:14  |  abdul aziz 23/04/08   40.   Does natalie Durson ever say anything valid? 03:45  |  DR 23/04/08   41.   Sunni Qaida vs Shia Iran, ROUND 1 05:35  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/04/08   42.   For Cipora # 30 05:52  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/04/08   43.   Okay Enough With This Crap Here Comes Something Really Worrisome! 06:52  |  Yosemite 23/04/08   44.   There`s A Rumor Going Around That Ayman Is A Pedophile... 05:11  |  Yosemite 24/04/08

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