Egyptian Minister says bin Laden's video is proof of guilt

Egypt says the videotape in which Osama bin Laden is shown rejoicing over the September 11 attacks is a complete confession.

It is the first time the country has given an official reaction.

Interior Minister Habib el-Adly says the tape is a clear and complete implication of Osama bin Laden.

Many in the Middle East doubted the authenticity of the tape, released by the Pentagon on December 13.

But Egyptian security forces "consider it a clear confession of bin Laden's responsibility in all that happened .... It is a complete confession that implicates him," el-Adly said.

El-Adly predicted that bin Laden "would be caught or killed sooner or later", and confirmed the deaths of four Egyptians identified as leaders in bin Laden's network: Mohammed Atef, who was the network's military chief; Tariq Anwar al-Sayyid Ahmad; Muhammad Salah; and Anwar Moustafa.

US officials had previously confirmed the deaths of Atef, al-Sayyid Ahmad and Salah, all killed by US airstrikes on Afghanistan.