“France’s heart is full of hate for Muslims” affirmed al-Qaida’s second-in-command on an internet site, where he denounced France’s hostility to the wearing of the Islamic veil yesterday.

The speech was released by American Intelligence services who surveille Islamist internet sites.

Al-Zawahiri was answering a question put to him regarding France’s policies regarding Islam.

“France pretends to be a secular country whereas its heart is full of hate for Muslims” he said, adding that “during its history, France supported the Jews in their efforts to take control of Palestine (...) fought Arabs in Algeria and supplied Israel with its first nuclear reactor.”

According to American Intelligence, it was the sixth interview by al-Zawahiri on that paticular internet site. During the 90-minute interview he repeated al-Qaida’s position on several issues.

In answer to another question he notably affirmed that “Israel is a crime which must be eliminated” and that Muslims will never accept a two-state solution to the Israel – Palestine conflict.

He also said that he saw no difference between the policies of American President Barack Obama and those of George Bush, his predecessor. He qualified Obama as being a “criminal” and a “liar.”