Al-Qaeda has voiced its support for Syria’s revolt, posing new problems for the West and Arab nations, who have called for its president to step down.

Osama bin Laden’s long-time lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri has taken command of al-Qaeda after the killing of the group’s founder and leader.

It was the strategic thinking and the organisational skills of Ayman al-Zawahr that kept al-Qaeda together.