DUBAI, Dec 19: Arabic television channel al Jazeera on Friday aired an audio tape purportedly from Al Qaeda’s second in command Ayman al-Zawahri, saying his group was chasing Americans everywhere, including the United States.

“America has been defeated (by) our fighters despite all its military might, its weaponry...With Gods help we are still chasing Americans and their allies everywhere, including their homeland,” said the speaker, believed to be Zawahri who the US says is Osama bin Laden’s deputy.

“Americans have become unable to defend themselves and even to protect their biggest criminals and leaders such as (Deputy Defense Secretary Paul) Wolfowitz,” the speaker said in apparent reference to an attack on a hotel Wolfowitz stayed at in Baghdad in October.

“How can we excuse you after all the warnings that we gave you. You reap what you sow,” he said, addressing the American people. Al Qaeda has repeatedly urged Americans to oppose the policies of President George W. Bush.

There was no way to independently verify the voice on the tape was Zawahri’s. Al Jazeera and another Arab satellite television station, Al Arabiya, have broadcast similar messages.

In October, the CIA said its analysis determined that an Al Jazeera audio tape was like the voice of Osama bin Laden. In August, the CIA said an Arabiya tape was the voice of Zawahri.—Reuters