Pak TV channel gets Al-Qaeda tape calling for jihad

Islamabad, Aug.12 (ANI): A Pakistani TV channel has received an audiotape in which Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri , attacks the country's leaders and urges Jihad or holy war in Pakistan.

The audoptape, recorded in English was aired by Pakistan's 'Ary ' TV station. It has not yet been posted to jihadist websites.

Egyptian-born medic Al-Zawahiri explains in the audiotape that it is in English because he does not speak Urdu - the language spoken by most Pakistanis.

The video may have been made to disprove reports that he was killed in a missile strike in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan on 23 July.

The audio message was released by Al-Qaeda's production arm, As-Sahab, and has not been fully authenticated. Top Al-Qaeda leader and chemicals expert Midhat Mursi Al-Sayid Umar died in the attack.

The US State Department has offered a 25 million dollar reward for Al-Zawahiri, who has delivered numerous audio and video messages urging militants to continue the fight against the United States. (ANI)