BBC: Al Qaeda claims they control most of Afghanistan

[tomfodw]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3642910.stm

Al-Qaeda deputy says US lying low

Osama Bin Laden's deputy has said Islamic fighters are in control of much of Afghanistan, in a new video aired on the Arabic TV station, al-Jazeera.

Wearing a white turban and with a machine gun at his side, Ayman al-Zawahri said US forces were lying low and not confronting the "mujahideen".

In the message lasting several minutes, Zawahri said that "east and south Afghanistan have become an open arena for mujahideen". "The enemy are limited to their capitals," said the bespectacled former Egyptian surgeon, who is believed to be Bin Laden's spiritual adviser. "The Americans are hiding in their trenches and refuse to come out to face the mujahideen, as the mujahideen shell them, fire on them and cut roads off around them. Their defence is only to bomb from the air," he said, adding that America was wasting its money "kicking up dust".

"In Kabul, the Americans and peacekeeping forces are hiding from the shells of the mujahideen and expect martyrdom attacks at every moment," he added.