Al-Qaida leader hits government supporters

CAIRO (AP) -- Al-Qaida's leader has lashed out at Afghan clerics and politicians who support the Kabul government.

In an 11-minute audio message posted on militant websites, he called the backers of President Hamid Karzai's regime "hypocrites and worse than the infidels."

Ayman al-Zawahri called on Afghans to join the jihad (holy war) against NATO forces in their country.

Al-Zawahri assumed command of al-Qaida last June after founder Osama bin Laden was killed in an American raid in Pakistan.

Al-Zawahri aimed blistering criticism at the U.S., referring to a video that shows U.S. soldiers urinating on what appear to be the bodies of militant fighters.

"These are their values and how they regard people, especially Muslims, and this is their way in dealing with us," he said.

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