Zawahri threatens more attacks in UK

Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, yesterday threatened more attacks on Britain, two weeks after failed bombings in London and Glasgow.

"I say to (Former British Prime Minister Tony) Blair's successor that the policy of your predecessor drew catastrophes in Afghanistan and Iraq and even in the centre of London," the Egyptian cleric said in an audio tape posted on the internet. "If you did not learn the lesson then we are ready to repeat it, God willing, until we are sure you have fully understood."

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the 20-minute tape, which appeared on a website used by al Qaeda-linked groups with a still photograph of Zawahri.

The recording came just days after two car bombs were found in London and a fuel-packed jeep was rammed into Glasgow Airport in Scotland - botched attacks which Prime Minister Gordon Brown said were associated with al Qaeda.

Zawahri also criticised Britain's controversial decision to award author Salman Rushdie a knighthood, saying Queen Elizabeth had sent a clear message to Muslims by honouring a novelist who had insulted Islam, and said the group was preparing a response.

Mr Rushdie is best known for his novel The Satanic Verses, which outraged many Muslims and prompted death threats that forced him to live in hiding for nine years. Zawahri said the least Muslims could do was to boycott British goods to protest Mr Rushdie's knighthood.

A spokesman for Mr Brown rejected Zawahri's comments. "We do not intend to dignify this with a response," the spokesman said. "As the Prime Minister has said, the British people will remain united, resolute and strong and we will not allow terrorists to undermine the British way of life."