Bin Laden is in good health, says Zawahri

Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is well and reports speculating on his sickness were false, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri said in a recording yesterday.

"Sheikh Osama bin Laden is in good health," Zawahri, who is also a doctor, said in response to questions compiled by Islamist websites. "The ill-intentioned always try to circulate false reports about him being sick."

Zawahri, who, like Saudi-born bin Laden is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan or Pakistan, also denounced the United Nations and vowed to attack Jews both within and outside Israel.