Al-Qaeda's No. 2 Leader Hits Out At Turkey

Ayman al-Zawahri

An audio tape purportedly from Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, has been posted on Islamist websites.

On the tape, the speaker directly addresses the people of Turkey. The voice calls on Turkey's people to pressure their government into cutting ties with Israel and pulling Turkish troops out of Afghanistan.

The speaker chastises Turkish authorities who "appear to sympathize with the Palestinians through statements and by sending some relief aid, but it actually recognizes Israel, engages in trade, carries out military training and shares information with it."

compiled from agency reports