'Bin Laden deputy calls for reform by holy war'

In a clear reference to Iraq’s weekend balloting, a statement purportedly made by Osama bin Laden’s top deputy says holy war, not “rigged elections”, is the only path for reform in Islamic nations.

The written statement, said to have been the transcript of an audio taped recording of a speech by al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahri, first appeared on several Islamist internet sites yesterday.