Al-Zawhahri mocks Musharraf

In a rare English-language message believed to be from al-Qaida’s No 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri claimed Pakistan was now “virtually ruled from the American Embassy”.

It is not clear when the tape was made, but it includes apparently recent pictures of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and others in the ruling coalition, indicating it was created since the February election that brought Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf’s foes to power.

The Pakistani ARY channel gave a copy of the tape, whose authenticity could not immediately be verified, to The Associated Press. An AP reporter who has reviewed his past recordings said the voice sounded like that of al-Zawahri.