Terror leader releases video, mocks reform

CAIRO, Egypt – Al Qaeda’s No. 2 leader released a new video, broadcast on Al-Jazeera television Friday, in which he disparaged the U.S. concept of reform in the Middle East and said armed jihad is the only way to bring change in the Arab world.

The message by Ayman al-Zawahri appeared to be an attempt by Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network to co-opt the rising wave of reform movements in the Middle East.

“The removal of the Crusader and Jewish invaders won’t occur by peaceful demonstrations,” he said in a clip on the pan-Arab network. “Reform and expelling the invaders from the countries of Islam won’t happen except through fighting for God’s sake.”

The Egyptian was shown sitting before a plain backdrop with an automatic weapon leaned next to him. He outlined what he called a true program for reform – based on the rule of Islamic law, end of U.S. and Western domination, and freedom of the Muslim nation to run its own affairs.

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera aired three segments of the video without saying how long the full message was. An al-Jazeera spokesman said the station received the tape Friday.

In one of the clips, al-Zawahri called on Palestinian militants to end a cease-fire with Israel and stay out of elections in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.