Leader of Al-Qaeda in North Africa Abu Obaida al-Annabi urged ‘Muslims’ worldwide to attack French interests in retaliation for France’s military intervention against the militants in Mali

Leader of Al-Qaeda in North Africa Abu Obaida al-Annabi urged ‘Muslims’ worldwide to attack French interests in retaliation for France's military intervention against the militants in Mali, according to a video message posted online.
  
"It is your duty, all Muslims... to attack French interests everywhere," said in the recording dated April 25.
  
Annabi, presented as the head of the council of dignitaries of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, called for "full mobilization" to combat the "new crusade of France". "Jihad (holy war) is now the duty of every capable among you," he said.

French President Francois Hollande reacted swiftly by saying that Paris takes the Al-Qaeda threat "seriously". "We are taking seriously the threat by AQIM," Hollande told reporters, adding that despite considerable losses inflicted on Islamists in Mali, "the terrorist threat has not disappeared."
  
Annabi's call came days after Mohammed al-Zawahiri, the brother of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, issued a similar threat. "France is playing with fire... By attacking Mali, France lit the fuse and will suffer the consequences," Mohammed told French weekly Le Point last month. "The reaction of jihadi fighters is likely to be strong, be it in Mali or on French territory. "France kills our children, we must respond. We have neither bombs nor planes, but our resources allow us to take hostages to defend ourselves," he said.