Egyptian-born surgeon Ayman al-Zawahiri has been named as the new leader of Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda.
'The general command of al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group,' the jihadist network said in statement posted on an Islamist website.
Al-Zawahiri succeeds Osama bin Laden who was killed in a US operation last month.
The statement said that under al-Zawahiri's leadership al-Qaeda would relentlessly pursue its 'jihad' (holy war) against the US and Israel.
'We seek with the aid of God to call for the religion of truth and incite our nation to fight ... by carrying out jihad against the apostate invaders ... with their head being crusader America and its servant Israel, and whoever supports them,' said the statement.
The fight would continue 'until all invading armies leave the land of Islam.'
The extremist network affirmed that it would not 'recognise any legitimacy of the so-called State of Israel.'
'We will not accept or adhere to any agreement or accord that recognises it (Israel) or that robs a mile from Palestine, whether it is the United Nations controlled by top criminals or any other organisation.'
Al-Zawahri vowed earlier this month to press ahead with al-Qaeda's campaign against the US and its allies, in what appeared to be his first public response to Bin Laden's death in a US commando raid in Pakistan in May.
He was believed to have been Bin Laden's personal adviser and physician for many years.
The new leader is reported to have been one of the main ideological forces behind the terrorist group.
