Al-Qaeda leader Zawahiri slams UN presence in Lebanon

Apr 22, 2008, 11:31 GMT

Beirut - Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri called Tuesday on what he described as 'Mujahideen' to 'evict' the UN peacekweeping forces in southern Lebanon.

Zahwari's comment was aired on an Islamic Website in response to questions during an open Islamic Forum.

'The Mujahideen in Lebanon should evict the invading crusader forces which is called the peacemaking force in Lebanon,' Zawhari said in a reference to the UN forces deployed in Lebanon along the border with Israel.

Zawahiri stressed that UN resolution 1701 was not acceptable.

UN resolution 1701 ended 33 days of war between Israel and the Hezbollah in August 2006.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established in Lebanon 30 years ago, after Israel's first invasion in 1978, but had little impact on events - having no mandate to prevent attacks on Israel from Lebanon, or vice versa.

After the July 2006 war, the force received new orders and thousands of reinforcements under the ceasefire resolution 1701, which also stipulated the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area.

Zawahiri said that Lebanon would play a pivotal role in the Islamists' fight against the 'crusaders and Jews.'

'Lebanon is a Muslim front fort. It wil have a pivotal role, God willing, in future battles with the crusader forces and the Jews,' he said.

'I call upon the Jihadist in Lebanon to prepare to reach Palestine,' he added.