Apparently al-Qaeda doesn’t watch much news.

Rome, 4 Oct. (AKI) — Underscoring concerns about a rise of extremism in Libya, the purported leader of Al-Qaeda’s North African branch has urged the rebels who ousted autocratic leader Muammar Gaddafi to impose Islamic rule.

In a 12-minute audio message posted to jihadist websites, the voice of a man identified as Abdelmalek Droukdel congratulated the rebels for toppling Gaddafi and taking the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

But the message warned the west to stay away from Libya and urged rebels not to succumb to “NATO blackmail” as Gaddafi and members of his family remained at large.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb will torch the armies of France and NATO in Libya if they attempt to lead a ground invasion of the country,” the message said. “We will set their armies alight if they set foot in Libya,” it stated.