Al-Qaeda's No 2 criticises moderate Arab leaders

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda has accused moderate Arab leaders of being traitors for cooperating with the US in a greeting marking the most important Islamic holiday.

The deputy leader of al-Qaida has accused moderate Arab leaders of being traitors for cooperating with the United States in a greeting marking the most important Islamic holiday.

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Ayman al-Zawahri's wished the Palestinian people a happy Eid al-Adha but lashed out at Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement.

"Those who had sold Palestine, the secular traitors, can not be your brothers. Do not recognise their legitimacy. ... And don't sit with them ... And do not sign with them the documents that will make you lose Palestine," said al-Zawahri in a 15-minute audiotape posted on a Web site yesterday, commonly used by Islamic insurgents.

Al-Zawahri did not mention Saddam Hussein's execution in the tape suggesting it was made before the ousted leader's hanging on Saturday.

The tape could not immediately be verified, but a banner posted on the Web site said it came from al-Qaida's media production house, al-Sahab.