Doha: Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahri has urged Pakistanis to rise up against President Pervez Musharraf in an audiotape aired by Qatar's Al-Jazeera TV on the eve of the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

"We ask our Muslim brethren in Pakistan: until when will you put up with the traitor Musharraf, who sold the Muslims' blood in Afghanistan and handed over the Arab mujahideen to crusader America?" the speaker purported to be Zawahri said.

"Had it not been for his treason, the surrogate government would not have been installed in Kabul, that government which brought the Indians to Pakistan's Western borders."

"Not only this. He opened up nuclear installations to US inspection, choked off the jihad in Kashmir... and is (planning) to recognise Israel - all for a handful of Dollars the Americans stack in his pocket."



"The officers and soldiers of the Pakistani Army should realise that Musharraf will hand them over as prisoners to the Indians ... and flee abroad to enjoy his secret (bank) accounts."

He urged "all Muslims in Pakistan" to close ranks to protect their country from "the crusade allied with the Hindus".

"Act, O Muslims in Pakistan before you wake up from your slumber to find Hindu soldiers raiding your homes in complicity with the Americans," said the top lieutenant of al-Qaida terror chief Osama bin Laden.

Agencies