Al-Qaeda Leader Denounces Syrian President

CNN reported that the new leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri’,  has slammed the Syrian president, calling Bashar al-Assad “the leader of criminal gangs, the protector of traitors,” and has commended the efforts on behalf of the protesters. Al-Zawahri’ claimed that the protesters were ‘examples’ who ‘explained lessons to the Syrian nation in sacrifice, steadfastness and struggle’. However, most young protesters are concerned with securing greater freedoms from dictatorial regimes.

In the video he released, al-Zawahri’ asserted that America and President Obama wanted to “replace Assad with a new ruler who follows America, protects Israel’s interest and grants the (Muslim) nation a few freedoms.” Prominent rights leader and protester Loay Hussein claimed al-Zawahiri and other militants “want a foot in Syria because it is a strategic country that can serve many of their interests.” ”Al-Qaeda is already in Yemen, but in Syria, al Qaeda has no stronghold so it would like to gain one,” Hussein also commented.