DUBAI, March 18: A statement attributed to Al Qaeda has threatened Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries it described as "America's lackeys", with attacks similar to those in Madrid last week.

The other countries named in the statement were Britain, Japan, Italy and Australia, an Arab daily reported in its Thursday edition. "To America's lackeys we say: a lackey of America has destroyed his future by allying himself with the tyrant of the century," said the text, signed by Abu Hafs al Masri/Al Qaeda Brigades received by Al Qods Al Arabi newspaper.

"Jose Marie Aznar will be chucked into the dustbin of history," said the statement, referring to the Spanish prime minister, whose party was swept out of power in Sunday's general election.

"Learn your lesson, you lackeys of America, the brigades of death are at your gates," it warned. "We will strike you with an iron fist, at the appropriate place and time," said the statement, condemning "Arab and Muslim lackeys like (President Pervez) Musharraf and the Al Saud" family, which rules Saudi Arabia. -AFP