Washington: Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri called on Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets in response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip in an online message.

"O Muslims everywhere: fight the Zionist crusader campaign. Strike its interests everywhere you can reach them," Zawahiri said in an audio statement made yesterday available by the US-based monitoring company, SITE Intelligence Group.

Zawahiri said the 11-day-old Israeli offensive, which has killed 660 Palestinians since it was launched on December 27 to halt Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel, was part of a Western campaign targeting Islam.

He also accused US president-elect Barack Obama of being complicit in the attacks. "What we face today ... Is a link in the chain of the crusade against Islam and Muslims," he said.

"These raids are Obama's gift to you (Palestinians) before he takes office.

"This is Obama whom the American machine of lies tried to portray as the rescuer who will change the policy of America. He kills your brothers and sisters in Gaza mercilessly and without affection," Zawahiri added.

Obama has been criticized for not speaking out forcefully against the Israeli offensive, but vowed Tuesday he would have plenty to say about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once he takes office on January 20.

And he added yesterday that the "loss of civilian life in Gaza and in Israel is a source of deep concern for me."

Source : PTI