Washington: Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is "healthy and well," the network's number two leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has said in an audio message, according to a US group monitoring Islamist websites.

"Sheikh Osama bin Laden is healthy and well by the grace of Allah," Zawahiri said yesterday in the audio released by Al-Qaeda s media arm, As-Sahab, according to a transcript provided by IntelCentre.

"The prejudiced ones always try to spread false information about him being ill, but even if Osama bin Laden doesn t become ill, he must die one day, whereas Allah's religion will remain until Allah inherits the Earth and everything on it," he said.

The health of Al-Qaeda's elusive leader, who is believed to be hiding somewhere in the porous border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan, is the subject of widespread speculation.

Bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people and prompted the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
Source : PTI