Al-Zawahiri said Obama's election has not changed US policies of oppressing Muslims and others [AFP]

In an internet audio message released on Wednesday, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second-in-command, said Obama would fail if he followed the policies of George Bush, the current US president.

"What you have announced before ... that you will withdraw [US] troops from Iraq [and send them] to Afghanistan is a policy that is doomed to failure," al-Zawahiri said in the message made available by the SITE Institute, a US organisation that monitors Islamic groups.

"If you still want to be stubborn about America's failure in Afghanistan, then remember the fate of Bush and [Pakistan's former president] Pervez Musharraf, and the fate of the Soviets and British before them," he added.

'Harm America'

In a major interview aired on Sunday, Obama reiterated his campaign promise to begin pulling troops out of Iraq and switch the military focus to Afghanistan.

Al-Zawahiri's message appeared chiefly aimed at convincing Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in US policies.

Al-Zawahri said that Obama is "the direct opposite of honourable black Americans" like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

"America, the criminal, trespassing crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it, in order for it to come to its senses," al-Zawahri said.

In his speech, al-Zawahri refers to a November 5 US air raid in Afghanistan, meaning the video was made after that date.

Al-Zawahri said Obama's election has not changed American policies, which he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others.

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