New al-Quaida tape, new message
WASHINGTON (AP) - January 23, 2008 The approximately 28-minute tape features al-Qaida spokesman
Abu-Yahya al-Libi telling Islamic scholars to lend their weight to
support the "jihad," that is, a holy obligation or struggle. The
intelligence official said this is an apparent effort to counter
some Islamic scholars who are criticizing al-Qaida's violent
activities, saying they do not qualify as jihad.
The videotape, in Arabic, was posted on a well-known jihadist
Web site on Jan. 23, according to the official.
Al-Libi urges military groups to resist splitting into factions
along national or political lines and to fight only for Islamic
causes, according to the U.S. government's initial translation, the
official said.
