Bin Laden calls for war on EU ‘crusaders’

TERRORIST leader Osama bin Laden issued ominous new threats yesterday, apparently seeking to justify attacks on civilians in the West and implying that the whole EU was at war with Islam.

He also called on his followers to go to Sudan to fight a proposed UN force in Darfur.

In his first new message in three months, the al-Qaida chief said in the audiotape that the West’s suspension of aid to the Palestinian Hamas-led government proved Washington and Europe were conducting “a Zionist (Jewish) crusaders (Christian) war on Islam”.

Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin said bin Laden had decided to attack Israel to deflect growing Arab animosity toward al-Qaida.

“When he attacks Israel, this is something the Arab world can agree upon,” Mr Gissin said. “He has been criticised for the destruction and carnage he’s causing the Muslim nation. He’s looking for another justification. Criticising Israel sounds more politically correct.”

Al-Qaida is believed to have no direct links to Hamas, which is an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood, but they share an anti-Israel ideology.

Recent reports in Middle East media outlets have said al-Qaida is building cells in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Sudan.

Israel has indicted two West Bank militants for al-Qaida membership and a Palestinian security official has acknowledged al-Qaida is “organising cells and gathering supporters” although Israeli officials say the inroads appear preliminary.

The voice on the tape sounded strong and appeared the same as that on other recordings attributed to bin Laden. There was no way to independently verify the authenticity of the tape.

“I call on Mujahedin and their supporters, especially in Sudan and the Arab peninsula, to prepare for long war against the crusader plunderers in western Sudan. Our goal is not defending the Khartoum government but to defend Islam, its land and its people,” he said.