Al-Qaida deputy leader urges alliance with Hamas

Al-Qaida's deputy leader called on Muslims around the world to back Hamas with weapons, money and attacks on US and Israeli interests in a web audiotape today.

Ayman al-Zawahr also urged the Palestinian militant group to unite with al-Qaida's "holy warriors" after its takeover of Gaza.

The message from Osama bin Laden's top deputy marked a major shift by al-Qaida, which in the past criticised Hamas for joining a government with the US-supported Fatah faction.

But Hamas appeared uncomfortable today with al-Zawahri's approach.

The Palestinian group has been reluctant to accept to attempts to be co-opted by al-Qaida in the past, saying its conflict is with Israel and that it has no plans to attack targets abroad.

Also, Hamas does not want to alienate powerful Arab countries, such as Egypt.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, a hard-liner, distanced his group from the al-Qaida deputy's comments, but stopped short of criticising them.

"Hamas has its own programme, regardless of the comments of this group or that group," he said today.