The new head of al Qaeda describes Syria’s president as “the leader of criminal gangs, the protector of traitors,” and applauds anti-government protesters seeking to topple him, in a video that appeared on extremist websites this week.

The new head of al Qaeda describes Syria’s president as “the leader of criminal gangs, the protector of traitors,” and applauds anti-government protesters seeking to topple him, in a video that appeared on extremist websites this week.