Al-Qaeda chief level with Obama among Egypt voters: poll

NEW YORK: New Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri is neck and neck with US President Barack Obama in popularity among Egyptian voters, according to a poll released Monday ahead of the country's election.

The poll by the International Peace Institute (IPI) think tank said Obama is viewed favorably by just 12% of Egyptians. Zawahiri, an Egyptian who was named last week as the replacement for the assassinated Osama bin Laden at the head of Al-Qaeda, is rated positively by 11% of his compatriots.

The poll of 800 voters was carried out ahead of the presidential election later this year in Egypt, where a popular uprising forced out longtime iron man Hosni Mubarak.

Former Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa remains the election front runner with 32% of voting intentions, according to the IPI poll.

If they run, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf would place second at 16% and military leader Marshall Mohammad Tantawi third at 8%.

Opposition leaders Mohammad ElBaradei and Ayman Nour get just 2% and 3% of votes respectively. (AFP)