Dubai Al-Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, urged Muslims to help Pakistan's earthquake victims in a video broadcast on Sunday.
?I call on all Muslims and Islamic charity organisations in particular to go to Pakistan and give a helping hand to the victims there," Zawahri said in the tape aired on Al-Jazeera, an Arabic TV channel.
Denouncing Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf?s effort to normalise the quake situation, Zawahri said, ?We all know that Musharraf's government is an agent of the US, but despite that I call on all Muslims to run to the help of their brothers in Pakistan".
The tape appeared to have been recorded on October 9, as Zawahri said the earthquake had occurred the day before.
US intelligence was studying the videotape but results were not expected until later in the week, said an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the subject involved classified counter terrorism operations.
Pakistan is a key ally in the US war against terrorism and has launched frequent raids against al-Qaeda.
Washington has accused a number of Islamic charities of funneling funds to militants.
Zawahri last appeared in videotape aired on Al-Jazeera on September 19, in which he said al-Qaeda carried out the July suicide bombings in London to strike at ?British arrogance?.
The October 8 earthquake has killed more than 53,000 in Pakistan with more than 75,000 seriously injured.
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