White House says bin Laden successor "not surprising"

White House says bin Laden successor "not surprising"

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Thursday saidterror network al-Qaida's announcement of Ayman al-Zawahri'sappointment as its new leader is "not surprising," adding that thegroup's ideology is "bankrupt."

Al-Zawahri's taking over of the leading position after Osama binLaden's death "is not surprising, nor does it change somefundamental facts, which is al-Qaida's ideology is bankrupt," saidWhite House Spokesman Jay Carney at a regular news briefing.

Al-Qaida announced through an Islamic website earlier Thursdaythat al-Zawahri has become its new leader to succeed bin Laden, whowas killed on May 2 by U.S. special forces in Pakistan.

The statement said the group under the leadership of al-Zawahriwould press ahead with its strife against the United States, Israeland "whoever supports them."

The Egyptian-born Zawahri, a 60-year-old surgeon, vowed in a June8 Internet message the group will continue its fight.