'Bin Laden deputy' heard on new tape

An audiotape attributed to al-Qaida deputy Ayman al-Zawahri and broadcast on two Arab satellite channels accused the United States of trying to abolish Islam.

An audiotape attributed to al-Qaida deputy Ayman al-Zawahri and broadcast on two Arab satellite channels has accused the United States of trying to abolish Islam.

The tape, aired in excerpts on Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, appeared to be recent, as the speaker referred to Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to India earlier this month and the September 6 resignation of Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas.