Al-Qaeda chief Zawahiri calls for revenge attacks over Saudi executions

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:  Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called for revenge attacks in Saudi Arabia and on the West after the kingdom’s execution of some 40 jihadists, according to a message posted online.

[caption id=“attachment_2583894” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ayman Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri is the current leader of al-Qaeda . Reuters[/caption] In the message, Zawahiri called on supporters to attack “the Crusader-Zionist coalition whenever possible” and urged Saudis to overthrow the kingdom’s ruling family. “Is it not about time that you get rid of this rotten regime… that will never defend you?” he said. Saudi Arabia on 2 January executed 47 people, mostly jihadists convicted of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudis and foreigners in the kingdom in 2003 and 2004. A prominent Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, was also executed, sparking protests from Shiite-dominated Iran and a diplomatic crisis that saw Riyadh cut ties with Tehran. Zawahiri said Nimr’s killing was “one of the manifestations of the Saudi-Iranian competition for power in the region, but under the umbrella of protecting and complying with the interests of America.” AFP