Number two leader of the al-Qaeda terror network Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed that the group's leader Osama bin Laden was still alive and called upon al-Qaida fighters to unite in the "holy war" against the West, according to a video broadcast by the al-Jazeera channel on Wednesday.

"I declare to all Muslims and mujahideen that al-Qaida is growing and expanding, thanks to God. Its prince Sheikh Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, is still leading the jihad (holy war), " Zawahri claimed in the video.

The senior al-Qaida leader also urged al-Qaeda fighters to target oil facilities in Muslim countries, saying the large oil revenues have fallen into the hands of "the enemies of Islam."

In addition, Zawahri claimed that US President George W. Bush was lying to the Americans about the military success against al- Qaida.

"Bush has been trying to delude the Americans with lies, saying that half, or three quarters of al-Qaida has been destroyed, which is only nonsense in his own head," said Zawahri.

The pan-Arab al-Jazeera said there was no specific date for the video, which was posted on a website.

The al-Qaeda network has masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and a number of other high-profile terror attacks.

The group in Iraq has been a driving force for anti-US insurgency and claimed responsibility for many grisly attacks on Western targets.

The US military believes that bin Laden, Zawahri and other al- Qaeda top militants have been hiding somewhere in the mountainous areas on the Pakistani-Afghan border.

Source: Xinhua