Ayman al-Zawahiri appointed as new al-Qaeda leader, the Americans must arrest him and put him on trial, rule of law must prevail

Dear All

The long-serving second-in-command of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has been appointed its head following the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan in early May.

So, having become the head, he also becomes number one on the Americans most wanted.

Al-Qaeda says it will continue to fight a “holy war” against the US and Israel under Zawahiri's direction.

Analysts say Egyptian-born Zawahiri, 59, is intelligent but if he is why is he standing for job were a death sentence upon capture is automatic?

And it is said he lacks the charisma of his predecessor.

However it is claimed by some experts that he is the "operational brains" behind the 9/11 attacks on the US.

The statement announcing his appointment was posted on a militant website and attributed to al-Qaeda's General Command.

"Sheikh Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri, may God guide him, assumed responsibility as the group's amir [leader]."

The statement also commented that under Zawahiri, it would pursue jihad or holy war against the US and Israel "until all invading armies leave the land of Islam".

Since when is having permission to have bases in the Middle East an invasion when they are government approved.

In a video message posted on the internet on 8 June, Zawahiri said al-Qaeda would continue to fight.

"The sheikh has departed, may God have mercy on him, to his God as a martyr and we must continue on his path of jihad to expel the invaders from the land of Muslims and to purify it from injustice."

Speaking of purifying Muslim lands from injustice; how does that square with their murder policy?

After when they destroyed the Twin Towers justice wasn’t on their minds as they didn’t care who died there.

Ayman al-Zawahiri

Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1951
Trained as an eye surgeon
Helped found the Egyptian Islamic Jihad militant group
Known as Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man and the chief ideologue of al-Qaeda
"Operational brains" behind the 9/11 attacks
$25m (£15m) bounty on his head

Took a medical oath and ended up a murderer.

And should be in prison!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University