Al-Qaeda 'willing to use nukes'
2009-06-22 14:07
Cairo - Al-Qaeda is willing to use Pakistan's nuclear weapons in its "war" against the United States, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, a senior leader of the terrorist network in Afghanistan has said in an interview with al-Jazeera.
"God willing, these nuclear weapons will not fall in the Americans' hands, but in the possession of Muslims and be used against the Americans," Abu al-Yazid was quoted as saying in the interview published on the news channel's website.
Abu al-Yazid also said al-Qaeda is willing to make a ten-year truce with the United States. Washington would, however, have to withdraw its troops from all Islamic countries and halt its support for Israel and the pro-Western Islamic regime.
On the question of the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, Abu al-Yazid said they are in safety, "but of course I cannot reveal their whereabouts. We do not know where they are anyway".
Abu al-Yazid vehemently denied any possible links between his group and Iran. He explained that there is "enmity" between both sides "as a result of what Iran is inflicting on the Sunnis".
He however, stressed the "strong ties and similar ideology and strategy" his group shares with Taliban in Pakistan.
- SAPA