Al-Qaeda commander: Obama is not welcome in Egypt

Al-Qaeda's second-in-command has criticized a planned speech later this week by US President Barack Obama to the Islamic world in Egypt.

Ayman al-Zawahri says the speech will not change the "bloody messages" the US military has been sending to Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda's second-in-command has criticized a planned speech later this week by US President Barack Obama to the Islamic world in Egypt. (CCTV.com)

Al-Zawahri made the remarks in an audio message posted on an al-Qaeda-linked Islamist website. During the recording, Al-Zawahri also criticized Obama's trip to Israel before being elected president.

The US president is hoping his speech at Cairo University on Thursday will play a key part in improving the US image in the Muslim world. But Al-Zawahri said Obama was NOT welcome in Egypt.

The authenticity of the almost 12-minute audio message could not be immediately confirmed.