Al Qaeda urges attacks on US

Al Qaeda's second-in-command urged Muslims to keep up attacks on the "criminal" United States and criticised US President-elect Barack Obama for promising to back Israel.

The US Homeland Security Department said the message by Ayman al-Zawahri, the first al Qaeda comment on Mr Obama's election, held no indications of an increased threat to the US homeland.

Mr Zawahri also warned Mr Obama of failure should he pursue the policies of President George W. Bush, according to an audio tape posted on Islamist websites yesterday.

The Egyptian militant also criticised Mr Obama, born to a Muslim Kenyan father, for what he described as turning his back on his Muslim roots.

Mr Zawahri attacked Mr Obama as a "house slave", contrasting him with 1960s black American Muslim leader Malcolm X.

"You represent the direct opposite of honourable black Americans like... Malcolm X," Mr Zawahri said on the tape, which included video footage of Malcom X.

"The Muslim nation received with extreme bitterness your hypocritical... stance towards Israel," he said. "You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand with the enemies of Muslims."

An Obama spokesman in Washington said the President-elect's office was not planning to comment.

A US counterterrorism official said the message showed that al Qaeda - which masterminded the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US - was isolated but still a threat.

"The message... is remarkable chiefly as an additional sign that al-Qaeda is out of touch with so much of the world," the official said.

Homeland Security Department spokesman Laura Keehner, asked if the message changed the department's assessment of the threat to the US, said: "Not that I've seen. We maintain that there's no credible information to suggest there's an imminent threat against the homeland at this time."

During a visit to Israel in July, Mr Obama assured Israel and its US Jewish supporters he was a friend who would not press for peace concessions that would compromise its security.

Hailing Israel as a "miracle", he promised staunch support and held only a low-profile meeting with Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank. The audio recording was accompanied by visuals including a picture of Mr Obama wearing a yarmulke.

"America, the criminal, trespassing crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it, in order for it to come to its senses," Mr Zawahri said, addressing Muslims across the world.