Saturday, June 24 2006 11:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Cairo: The second-in-command of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, said in a videotape that the terrorist organisation's 'holy war' would continue even if their leader Osama bin Laden is killed.

Al-Zawahiri also called Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed by a US air strike on June 7, a soldier, a hero and a prince of martyrs. The videotaped statement was broadcast by the Aljazeera channel Friday.

It was the first time Al Qaeda acknowledged the death of al-Zarqawi, Aljazeera said at its website. The videotape showed al-Zawahiri wearing a white robe and black turban, standing in front of a picture of a smiling al-Zarqawi over his shoulder.

Hussain Shaaban, an Iraqi writer and researcher, told Aljazeera that al-Zarqawi's death has significantly affected Al Qaeda in Iraq and the videotape was meant to raise the morale of Al Qaeda members and their supporters in the country.

Al-Zawahiri said US President George W. Bush is lying when he says the death of bin Laden would bring victory because there is not just one person opposing the US, but an entire Muslim nation that is prepared for holy war.

"America will not dream in security until security has become a reality in Palestine and the other Muslim countries," al-Zawahiri said.

The Al Qaeda leader also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki a collaborator who is working with the crusaders. He also said that the US Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, was an infidel.