Al-Qaeda has invited journalists to send questions

Al-Qaeda has invited journalists to send questions to its No 2 figure Ayman al-Zawahri, the first time the terror network has offered an "interview" with one of its top leaders since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US. The invitation -- issued by Al-Sahab, the group's media arm on an Islamic militant Web site -- is the latest in al-Qaeda's increasingly sophisticated efforts to get out its message. Al-Sahab has dramatically increased the number of messages it has issued this year, and its videos have shown more complex production.

The statement, first posted on Sunday, invites "individuals, agencies and all media" to submit written questions for al-Zawahri by sending them to the Islamic Web forums, where Al-Sahab traditionally posts its messages.

Al-Sahab asked the forums to send it the questions "by the letter, with no changes or substitutions, no matter whether they agree or disagree (with the question)."

It said it would take questions until January 16, then al-Zawahri would answer them "as much as he is able and at the soonest possible occasion." It did not say whether his answers would come in a written, video or audio-tape form.

The authenticity of the invitation could not be independently confirmed. It was posted with the logo of Al-Sahab and the style of graphics and calligraphy it traditionally uses, along with a photo of al-Zawahri. The message appeared on several Web sites that Al-Sahab officially uses for issuing statements.

Courtesy:expressindia.com
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