Bin Laden calls for unity

OSAMA BIN LADEN has issued a statement urging Muslims to bury their differences and unite to fight the “external enemy”.

The claim was made in London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

The paper said bin Laden issued the statement in a letter via the Centre for Islamic Research and Studies in Pakistan. It said the letter was obtained by its journalist Mohamed el-Shaf’aie.

The letter, written in Arabic, was 26 pages long and signed by bin Laden, the paper said, adding fundamentalist sources in London had told el-Shaf’aie that, although the letter was undated, it was written a few weeks ago.

“When will Muslims wake up from their long sleep and when will they distinguish between their friend and enemy,” Asharq Al-Awsat quoted bin Laden as saying.

“When will they direct their own arrows they use to fight each other to their external enemy that steals and loots its fortunes and its resources.”

Asharq Al-Awsat is Saudi-owned and describes itself as an Arab independent newspaper. It is widely read and respected in the Middle East.

If the letter is genuine, it would mark the first missive of 2003 from the leader of the al-Qaida network