New bin Laden tape praises Iraqi resistance

A voice purported to be Osama bin Laden saluted resistance groups fighting the US occupation in Iraq and warned Iraqis not to work with the Americans, in a new audiotape broadcast by Al-Jazeera.

“We call on all Muslims and Iraqis … beware of working with the American forces. … Whoever works with them is an infidel,” he said.

Bin Laden said: “You young people of Islam everywhere, especially from neighbouring states, and Yemen, you have to go wage jihad and show your muscles. Follow the right path and don’t follow people who follow their whims … who want to divert you from such a mission.

“America is implicated in the swamps of Tigris and the Euphrates (rivers in Iraq). America is in real trouble … it is now screaming for help, from the lowest of people,” he said.

“(US President George) Bush thought that Iraq and its oil is a big treasure,” the voice said. “Now it is in trouble and resorted to buying mercenary fighters from everywhere.

“We reserve the right to respond to the unjust countries that are taking part in this war.”

The last time bin Laden had a tape broadcast was on September 10, when Al-Jazeera screened a videotape that contained a pair of voice-overs, one purportedly from bin Laden and the other from his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri. The CIA said two days later that analysts had found bin Laden’s voice on the tape to be probably authentic.

Al-Jazeera broadcast two audiotapes. The second was a message to the Americans.

“I tell the American people we will continue fighting you and we will continue martyrdom operations inside and outside the United States until you stop your injustice, and you end your foolishness,” he said.

“Jihad must continue until an Islamic government is established.”