Cairo: The leader of al Qaeda's North Africa branch has urged Libyan rebels not to trust America and the US’ role in the international coalition bombing Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
Abdelmalek Droukdel of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claims the same America now attacking Gaddafi turned a "blind eye" in the past on his crimes against Libyans.
Droukdel, also known as Abu Musab Abdul-Wadud, says America got Gaddafi to give up weapons of mass destruction and Libyan oil so he could stay in power. The statement was posted on Monday on a militant website.
It says "winds of liberation have started blowing in Libya" and urges Tunisians, Egyptians and Algerians to help their Libyan brethren fight Gaddafi.
Al Qaeda has lobbied for Gaddafi's overthrown and the establishment of Islamic rule in Libya.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 16:19