Al-Qaida deputy goes online to justify attacks
· In Q&A, Zawahiri denies innocent people killed
· Bin Laden claimed to be 'healthy and well'
Al-Qaida has pulled off a propaganda coup by answering questions put to it by hundreds of people invited to take part in an online "open meeting" with Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri
but this is the first time he has responded to questions posted on online Islamist forums
Zawahiri wants to overcome the isolation forced on him by circumstances and talk to his fan club like any star ... It shows how they like to comment on current events and present al-Qaida as a force in international affairs."
"The UN is an enemy of Islam and Muslims. It is the one which codified and legitimised the setting up of the state of Israel and its taking over of the Muslims' lands,"
justified attacks against "Crusaders", Jews, and their agents and allies in Arab lands
predicted that "jihadi influence" will spread "to Jerusalem"
clipped from: www.guardian.co.uk