DUBAI, Feb 24: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri warned US President George Bush in an audiotape broadcast on Tuesday to prepare for more attacks in his country.
In the tape aired by Al Jazeera television, Mr Zawahri said: "Bush, strengthen your defences and your security measures for the Muslim nation which sent you the legion of New York and Washington has determined to send you legion after legion seeking death and paradise."
Ayman al Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's righthand man, also appeared on Tuesday to single out France in its league of enemies, accusing Paris of displaying "Crusader hatred" towards Islam by banning headscarves from state classrooms.
By turning on France in an audiotape broadcast on Dubai-based Al Arabiya television, Mr Zawahri - identifiable by his voice and rhetorical style - went beyond now familiar tirades against the United States, Britain, Arab states and other supporters of last year's invasion of Iraq.
"France is the country of freedom which defends freedom to show the body and to be immoral and depraved. In France you're free to show yourself but not to dress modestly," he said in reference to the headscarf ban approved by parliament.
"This is a new sign of the Crusader hatred which Westerners harbour against Muslims while they boast of freedom, democracy and human rights," said the voice on the tape.
Asked about the tape, a CIA official said: "The CIA is reviewing the tape to determine if it's authentic," adding that it could take a while before a determination was made.
In the Al Jazeera tape, Mr Zawahri said President Bush had lied in last month's State of the Union address when he asserted that most of Al Qaeda had been crushed and that US troops were spreading freedom and democracy.
"Bush alleged that his troops have spread freedom in the world, that Iraq had achieved democracy thanks to his coalition forces, that his government has crushed more than two-thirds of Al Qaeda and that...Afghanistan is secure," he said.
"The leader of the most powerful country on earth is not embarrassed to say these deceptions and lies. It's gotten to the stage that he can ridicule his listeners to this degree."
DRIVING A WEDGE: By focusing on the French headscarf ban, it appeared to be seizing on a fresh opportunity to promote that agenda and drive a wedge between Islam and the West.
Security experts say France's intelligence and defence links with former colonies in northern and western Africa make it a target for militants who are using the region to gather money, personnel and equipment.
And fear of Al Qaeda is drawing America into the region too. "The basic idea is that there should not be any more Somalias on the African continent.... a sort of 'no man's land' that could provide Al Qaeda with rear bases," said regional expert Antoine Glaser. Carved up by rival warlords since its military leader was overthrown in 1991, Washington has portrayed Somalia as a potential haven for Al Qaeda groups. -Reuters