Bin Laden urges Pakistanis to join jihad

Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the attacks in New York and Washington, has called on Pakistan’s Muslims to fight a holy war against the US Army.

In a statement provided to Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV station, bin Laden said: "I announce to you that we are steadfast on the path of jihad with the heroic, faithful Afghan people, under the leadership of Mullah Mohammed Omar (the leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban Government)."

The statement was signed by bin Laden and dated Sunday.

Bin Laden, who is believed to be in hiding in Afghanistan, often communicates with his followers through Al-Jazeera, which is renowned for its independent editorial policies.

In the statement broadcast today, bin Laden said he heard that "some of our Muslim brothers in Karachi were killed while expressing their opposition to the aggression of the American crusade forces and their allies on Muslim land in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"We hope that they are the first martyrs in Islam’s battle against the new crusade and Jewish campaign led by the big crusader Bush under the flag of the cross."