Al-Zawahiri sends warning to Obama

Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri condemned United States president-elect Barack Obama as a "house Negro" in an internet message on Wednesday.

Cyber-attack theory as al-Qaeda websites close

Websites being used to disseminate propaganda by al-Qaeda appear to have come under systematic cyber-attack, forcing the closure of three.

Warning on al-Qaeda's new female recruits

European intelligence chiefs have launched a major investigation into the threat posed by female Islamic militants within the European Union.

Al-Qaeda number two urges attacks on Israel

Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri, in an internet audio message, urged Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip to escalate attacks on Israel over its crippling siege of the territory.

CIA claims al-Qaeda is on the defensive

Al-Qaeda has been essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is on the defensive throughout most of the rest of the world, the CIA claimed on Friday. The upbeat assessment comes less than a year after United States intelligence reported that al-Qaeda had rebuilt its strength around the world and was well-placed to launch fresh attacks.

Bin Laden turns his mind to Israel

Osama bin Laden has plenty on his mind but he managed to pay close attention this month to the events surrounding Israel's 60th anniversary and the parallel commemoration of the "nakba" -- the catastrophe -- that the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 meant for the Palestinians.

Al-Qaeda grooming militants who 'look Western'

The head of the main United States spy agency has warned that al-Qaeda is training operatives who "look Western" and could enter the United States undetected to conduct terrorist attacks. Central Intelligence Agency Director General Michael Hayden said the terror network has shed its operational reliance on mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden says Gaza must be freed with 'iron and fire'

Osama bin Laden urged Palestinians on Thursday to use "iron and fire" to end an Israeli blockade of Gaza, in a recording after the Vatican rejected accusations by the al-Qaeda chief of a "new crusade". In an audiotape broadcast by the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite channel on Thursday, bin Laden urged Muslims to keep up the struggle against US forces in Iraq

Vote counting starts in crucial Pakistani election

Vote counting got under way on Monday after a lacklustre turnout in Pakistan's parliamentary elections, which passed off relatively peacefully despite fears of sabotage by Islamic militants. With his future hanging in the balance, President Pervez Musharraf resolved to work with the new civilian government.

Al-Qaeda kingpin killed by US strike, say officials

A top al-Qaeda commander who led Osama bin Laden's terror network in Afghanistan was believed to have been killed when a missile fired by a United States drone hit his Pakistani hideout, officials said on Friday. Abu Laith al-Libi is said to be one of bin Laden's key lieutenants.