New boss for Al Qaeda

Tony EASTLEY: At the top jobs in organizations such as al Qaeda may have trouble filling.

It is now six weeks since the death of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda Deputy Al-Zawahiri's group that has long operational leader Ayman spiritual leader will take charge of the announcement as well.

Middle East correspondent Ben Knight reports.

(Ayman al-Zawahiri speaking voice)

BEN KNIGHT: In the videotape released last week, Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of Al Qaeda was essentially staking its claim.

(Ayman al-Zawahiri speaking voice)

But in a sense it is almost surprising that he should have a clear successor because he had to do it.

Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan since 1980 and was deputy to Osama bin Laden's mentor and Al Qaeda, including those of September 11, 2001 is considered the mastermind behind the devastating attacks.

And it does not matter what Al Qaeda is anyway?

EFRAIM HALEVY: the organization is such that it now has developed into a name depends on each person.

BEN KNIGHT: Efraim Halevy 11 September attacks in the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was the key.

More than one sees that the operations are diverse and are centralized under a central command.

BEN KNIGHT: Ayman al-Zawahiri came from a high-class Cairo family and trained as a doctor and a surgeon.

But he is a fanatic for over 30 years. Here it is, in court from behind bars in 1981 in Egypt an Egyptian arrested in connection with the assassination of President Anwar Sadat as speaking to dozens.

(1981) Ayman al-Zawahiri: We tried our best to establish the Islamic state and Islamic society ...

BEN KNIGHT: There has slowed over the fire.



further the cause of the extreme brand of Islam.

Osama bin Laden, the alleged al-Qaeda leaders have been in just the past few months, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan were killed.