Al-Qaida in Afghanistan releases video

The leader of al-Qaida in Afghanistan praised a top commander who was killed last month by a U.S. missile strike and vowed to avenge his death, according to a video released Wednesday.

Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed, the self-proclaimed leader of the terror network's Afghanistan branch, said in the 12-minute video that the killing of Abu Laith al-Libi and other top al-Qaida leaders in recent years strengthens the fight against infidels.

"So, the killing of these heroic chiefs doesn't — and won't — end the march of jihad (holy war) or extinguish its torch or put out its light as the enemies imagine. Rather, their killing, in fact, pushes the march forward and strengthens, stabilizes, sharpens and stimulates it," al-Yazeed said in the video.

In the statement, al-Yazid threatens revenge, saying al-Libi's fighters "will not rest until they avenge him and realize his aspirations and hopes."

The video, which had English subtitles, could not immediately be independently verified, but it appeared on a militant Web site commonly used by al-Qaida. It also bore the logo of al-Qaida's media wing, Al-Sahab.

U.S. officials have said a missile from a U.S. Predator drone struck a terrorist safehouse in Pakistan late last month, killing al-Libi, who was believed to be responsible for the bombing during a visit last year by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney to Afghanistan. His death was first reported by postings on two Islamist Web sites.

In the video, al-Yazeed said al-Libi was killed by the weapon of "despicable cowards."

"The enemies of Allah were incapable of confronting (al-Libi) on the battlefield, nor were they able to compete with him as equals, for they are too cowardly and despicable for that. No, they used the weapon of treachery and betrayal," said al-Yazeed.

Al-Libi, whom Pakistani intelligence described as the operational commander of al-Qaida in the border region, was among the most high-profile figures in the militant group after its leader, Osama bin Laden, and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri.