'Trapped' Bin Laden deputy urges army to oust Musharraf

[Gloria]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=505108

'Trapped' Bin Laden deputy urges army to oust Musharraf
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington

26 March 2004

Arabic television has broadcast a purported new audiotape by Osama bin Laden's right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahri, in which he urges the Pakistani army to mutiny and lead the overthrow of the government of President Pervez Musharraf.

"Musharraf seeks to stab the Islamic resistance in Afghanistan in the back," said the speaker on the tape, aired by the al-Jazeera network yesterday. "Every Muslim in Pakistan should work hard to get rid of this agent government, which will continue to submit to America until it destroys Pakistan."

Although no immediate authentification was possible, experts said that at first hearing the voice sounded like that of Zawahri, widely believed to be the main operational organiser of al-Qa'ida.

Pakistani troops are continuing their two-week offensive against a large number of al-Qa'ida fighters said to be trapped in a pocket of the remote Northwestern Frontier province. Initially it was strongly suggested that a "high value target" - likely to be Zawahri - were among those who had been encircled. But that now appears unlikely, and officials say they have no idea which, if any, senior al-Qa'ida commander is there.

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[Kool Kitty]

1. If they succeed in ousting Musharraf,

There really will be trouble. Serious trouble.

[0007]

6. Wow! who couldn't see this coming? Same as the up coming draft

Gotta have troops to fight wars.

[grytpype]

2. Boy, it sure would suck if that happened.

[Gloria]

3. They've come close on a couple of occasions within the last 6 monts...

bombs blowing up just seconds after his motorcade has passed by.

He's been targeted for awhile. It might be just a matter of time...

[madrchsod]

4. i think he is protected by

either us troops or guards hired from the usa

[Tuttle]

7. Hardly re-assuring...

n/t

Tut-tut

[pinniped]

5. Still "trapped" eh?

"But that now appears unlikely, and officials say they have no idea which, if any, senior al-Qa'ida commander is there."

LOL, I doubt the Pakistani forces are even there.

[mikey_1962]

8. 6,000 Paki troops held off for 3 weeks?? By 400 men?

I cannot believe how inept these guys are. 6,000 troops held off by 400 to 600 ragtag militia guys.

And they think he's still trapped? Yeah right.......

[htuttle]

9. Trapped in a 'briar patch' maybe...

Something tells me that Pakistan's attempt at a clampdown in the tribal regions is exactly what Zawahiri and Co want to see happen right now.

[UpInArms]

10. related article: CIA Says Latest Zawahri Tape 'Likely' Authentic

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4672143§ion=news

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A recorded message aired this week was "likely" the voice of Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, who Pakistani forces recently believed they had trapped in a battle on the border region, a CIA official said on Friday.

But it was unclear when the recording was made so it could not be determined whether it was after the recent round of sweeps by Pakistani forces searching for al Qaeda and Taliban militants along the border with Afghanistan.

"After conducting a technical analysis, the CIA has assessed that the voice on the tape that was aired yesterday on Al Jazeera television is likely that of Ayman al-Zawahri. It is not clear when the tape was recorded," the CIA official said.

The recorded message called on Pakistanis to revolt against their government for supporting the United States, and was aired a week after Pakistani officials said troops had cornered a "high-value target," who may be al Qaeda's number two leader.

"I call on Muslims in Pakistan to get rid of their government which is working for Americans," the voice on the audio-only tape said.

...more...

[hang a left]

11. Look out, duck and cover.

Looks like it's about to blow.