Al-Qaida head seeks to show ‘human side’ of bin Laden

THE new head of al-Qaida remembers Osama bin Laden as a sensitive man who cried when his friends lost family members, remained close to his children, and fondly remembered — by name — the 19 men who carried out the deadliest terrorist attacks ever on US soil.

Long-time bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, now al-Qaida’s new leader, related these and other memories in a video posted on jihadist websites.

Zawahri said he wants “to show the human side” of bin Laden’s life. In doing so, he is likely trying to boost his own popularity by emphasising his closeness to the terror group’s former leader.