Al-Qaeda's number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a video saying that Iraqi insurgents have "broken the back" of the US military.
He praised "martyrdom operations" carried out by al-Qaeda in Iraq in the video, posted on an Islamist website.
And he called on the people and army of Pakistan to fight against President Musharraf's administration.
This is the third message from prominent al-Qaeda leaders to emerge within a week.
A tape from Osama Bin Laden was broadcast on 23 April, followed two days later by a message from Iraqi insurgent Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
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It's very satisfying to see such a response from Zawahiri. Al-Qaeda must be hurting pretty bad right now after all the operations against it's hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by Pakistan's Army and the forces in Afghansitan. Such video's show how they are struggling to gain more supporters and failing to do so.