Al-Qaeda Leader Urges Attacks On Gulf Oil Facilities

Ayman al-Zawahri pictured in 2001 (epa)

7 December 2005 -- Al-Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, has called for attacks against oil facilities in the Persian Gulf region.

The plea was made in a videotape posted on the Internet on 7 December but originally shot on 19 September.

Al-Jazeera aired the latest excerpts on 7 December, claiming this was new footage of Egyptian-born al-Zawahri. Al-Jazeera later acknowledged its mistake. Al-Jazeera had broadcast other excerpts from the video in September.

(AP)