17:04 GMT, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 18:04 UK

BBC News

Al-Qaeda accuses Iran of 9/11 lie

 

Al-Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has blamed Iran for spreading the theory that Israel was behind the 11 September 2001 attacks.

 

In an audio tape posted on the internet, Zawahiri insisted al-Qaeda had carried out the attacks on the US.

He accused Iran, and its Hezbollah allies, of trying to discredit Osama Bin Laden's network.

 

Correspondents say the comments underline al-Qaeda's increasing public hostility towards Iran.

 

In a two-hour audiotape posted on an Islamist website, Osama Bin Laden's chief deputy responded to questions posted by al-Qaeda sympathisers.

In response to a question about persistent rumours in the Middle East that Israel was involved in the 9/11 attacks, Zawahiri said the rumour had begun on the Hezbollah television station, Al-Manar.

"The purpose of this lie is clear - [to suggest] that there are no heroes among the Sunnis who can hurt America as no-one else did in history, he said.

"Iranian media snapped up this lie and repeated it."

 

Sunni fears

 

Zawahiri went on to criticise Iran for co-operating with the US in its 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, that helped to oust the Taleban.

"Iran's aim here is also clear - to cover up its involvement with America in invading the homes of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

 

This is the second verbal attack on Iran, a predominantly Shia Muslim country.

Earlier this month, in an audiotape marking the fifth anniversary of the fall of Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein, the al-Qaeda deputy accused Iran of planning to annexe southern Iraq and the eastern part of the Arabian peninsula.

 

BBC security correspondent Rob Watson says such messages appear designed to play on Sunni fears throughout the region of growing Iranian influence, and to present al-Qaeda as the best bulwark against Tehran.

 

Do you think American politicians have the intelligence to see that Iran & Al-Qaeda "are not batting for the same team" or do you think they've learnt nothing from the invasion of Iraq & Afghanistan?

i think they see it but will chose to ignre it an write what plot they want to justify an attack on iran.

Do you think American politicians have the intelligence to see that Iran & Al-Qaeda "are not batting for the same team" or do you think they've learnt nothing from the invasion of Iraq & Afghanistan?

 

Well, they sure didn't have the intelligence to realise that Saddam had nothing to do with Bin Laden did they....?

 

Rob's right, they'll just come up with another bullsh!t excuse to invade Iran, Washington is hell bent on continuing its crusade.... They've still got the whole 'nuclear' thing to fall back on.....