Doha, Qatar, May 21 (Bloomberg) -- Al-Qaeda's second-in- command urged Muslim militants to follow the example of the Sept. 11 hijackers and to target U.S., U.K., Australian and Norwegian interests, Al Jazeera television reported.

Ayman al-Zawahri, in a tape-recorded message broadcast by the TV station, criticized Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which gave logistical support to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and promised Iraqis and Muslims ``good news in the next few days,'' without elaborating.

The U.S., U.K. and Australia formed a coalition of forces that attacked Iraq on March 20, and now occupy the country after toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein. It wasn't made clear why Norway, which opposed the war and was responsible for brokering peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, was included among the targets.

The U.S. yesterday raised its terrorist threat indicator to ``high-risk,'' the second-highest level, citing intelligence that terrorist groups are planning attacks. The U.S. and the U.K. temporarily closed diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia. Australia advised its citizens not to travel to the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Osama bin Laden's lieutenant dismissed demonstrations and protests as ``inadequate,'' urging followers to pick up weapons and ``kill your enemies.''

Saudi Arabia's government said al-Qaeda, founded by Saudi- born fugitive Osama bin Laden, was behind car bombings in the capital, Riyadh, on May 12 that killed 34 people. Investigators in Morocco say the group may be linked to bombings Friday that killed at least 41 people in the city of Casablanca.

Last Updated: May 21, 2003 11:24 EDT