Al Qaeda Leader in Afghanistan Sends Message to Supporters in Turkey In Audio Obtained by CBS News

By: CBS News Investigates
Topics: Al Qaeda Statement

(CBS)

CBS News obtained a new audio statement by al Qaeda's leader in Afghanistan Mostafa Abul Yazid, which appears to be a private message directed towards al Qaeda supporters in Turkey to ask for financial support.

"We, your brothers in Afghanistan, are sending you our greetings and would like to present you with some recommendations," Abul Yazid said. He advised his interlocutor to treat Turkish Muslims well and be kind to them.

After a small introduction about financial support being a duty as jihad itself, Abul Yazid explains that the Afghani al Qaeda group was lacking "a lot of funds" and said this was the reason for the slowdown in operations these days. He points out that the militants are unable to carry out attacks because they have no money to do it with. Abu Yazid claims that the situation is so bad, that there are many men who want to carry out suicide operations, but " we can't equip them because of the shortage in funds."

It is not clear when this tape was recorded, but it seems to be over six months old, as Abul Yazid refers to former U.S. President George W. Bush as being still in office.

Other al Qaeda leaders had urged supporters to donate money to al Qaeda in the past, like al Qaeda's number two Ayman al Zawahri, who once asked Saudi supporters for financial support. Al Zawahri's message was intercepted by the Saudi authorities in 2007.