Al Qaida: Bush is a failure

Cairo: Al Qaida's deputy leader Ayman Al Zawahri called US President George W. Bush a "failure" and a "butcher" for his war on terror.

A video of Zawahri broadcast on Al Jazeera on Monday also showed the leader warning the United States of new attacks and criticising the Bush government for rejecting Osama bin Laden's truce offer.

"Bush, you are not only defeated and a liar, but, with God's help and might, a failure. You are a curse on your own nation and you have brought and will bring them only catastrophes and tragedies," he said.

The message provided evidence that Al Zawahri was still alive after a January 13 air strike in Pakistan that targeted him but killed 13 civilians.

A US counter terrorism official said the video was authentic but that intelligence officials were still analysing it.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Al Qaida is "under a lot of pressure" and that the US will continue "to pursue all those who seek to do us harm."

A terrorism expert in Ohio, Mark Ensalaco, said the tape may have been timed for Bush's State of the Union address and indicates that Al Qaida's strongmen are "alive and well and still plotting attacks".

FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said the bureau will be reviewing tips in light of the video, especially with the State of the Union in Washington and the Super Bowl in Detroit this week.