Bin Laden praises ‘lion of holy war’

OSAMA bin Laden praised al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as the “lion of holy war” in a new video posted on the internet yesterday.

He also urged US President George Bush to release the body of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and said Jordan should allow the slain terrorist to be buried in his homeland.

In the 19-minute message, bin Laden paid tribute to al-Zarqawi and said the former al-Qaida in Iraq leader had been under orders to kill Iraqis who supported US forces in the country. He also vowed more attacks against the US in the Middle East and Africa.