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Al-Qaeda condemns Rushdie honour Al-Qaeda condemns Rushdie honour
(20 minutes later)
Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has threatened to retaliate against Britain for giving a knighthood to novelist Salman Rushdie.Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has threatened to retaliate against Britain for giving a knighthood to novelist Salman Rushdie.
In a 20-minute audiotape, the al-Qaeda leader said the group was preparing a "very precise response".In a 20-minute audiotape, the al-Qaeda leader said the group was preparing a "very precise response".
The recording was posted on a website often used by Islamic militants.The recording was posted on a website often used by Islamic militants.
Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses sparked protests by Muslims around the world and led to Iran issuing a fatwa in 1989, ordering his execution.Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses sparked protests by Muslims around the world and led to Iran issuing a fatwa in 1989, ordering his execution.
Addressing UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Zawahiri said Britain's strategy in the Middle East had "brought tragedy and defeat upon you, not only in Afghanistan and Iraq but also in the centre of London". Addressing UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Zawahiri said: "I say to Blair's successor that the policy of your predecessor drew catastrophes in Afghanistan and Iraq and even in the centre of London."
'Insult to Islam' The UK said the knighthood was not intended as an insult to Islam In the speech, entitled Malicious Britain and its Indian Slaves, Zawahiri was quoted as warning Mr Brown: "If you did not learn the lesson then we are ready to repeat it, God willing, until we are sure you have fully understood."
In the speech, entitled Malicious Britain and its Indian Slaves, Zawahiri was quoted as warning Mr Brown: "And if you did not understand, listen, we are ready to repeat it for you." The former Egyptian surgeon, who is believed to be the architect of the al-Qaeda ideology, said Britain's award for Indian-born Sir Salman was an insult to Islam.
The bespectacled former Egyptian surgeon, who is believed to be the architect of the al-Qaeda ideology, said Britain's award for Indian-born Sir Salman was an insult to Islam. In response to the tape, the British government said the author's knighthood was a reflection of his contribution to literature.
In response to the tape, the British government said the knighthood awarded to the author was a reflection of his contribution to literature.
"The government has already made clear that Rushdie's honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad," said a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office."The government has already made clear that Rushdie's honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad," said a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office.
The UK Foreign Office said that it would maintain efforts to thwart terrorists.
"We will continue to tackle the threat from international terrorism as a priority in order to prevent the risk of attacks on British interests at home and overseas, including from al-Qaeda," a spokesman said.