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Warren Weinstein, who was kidnapped in 2011 in Lahore where
he worked for a U.S. consulting company, was last seen in a
video recording released in December.
In the latest message, al Qaeda said it had been demanding to
exchange Weinstein for members of the group held by the United
States for "no guilt except that they acted in defense of the
Muslim ummah (nation)" - an apparent reference to inmates held
at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
"Your government wants Warren Weinstein to die in prison so that
it may absolve itself of responsibility regarding his case," the
message said. "Your government has not made any serious effort
for the release of the prisoner."
Addressing the Weinstein family, it said the U.S. government's
failure to negotiate "will only lead to your prisoner dying a
lonely death in prison".
"Therefore, if you want Warren Weinstein to be released, do
whatever you can to pressurize your government."
It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of
the message which was posted on a website that has been used by
radical Islamists for similar announcements in the past.
In a 13-minute video clip posted on the Internet in December
2013, Weinstein looked gaunt and tired as he appealed to
President Barack Obama to intervene to negotiate his freedom.
Pakistan's tribal areas on its border with Afghanistan serve as
safe havens for al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups.
(Reporting by Mostafa Hashem in Cairo; Writing Sami Aboudi;
Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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