Bin Laden calls for holy war 'to free Palestine'

Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden slammed Palestinian negotiations with Israel and urged holy war for the liberation of Palestine in a new audio tape broadcast today.

The audio – the second by bin Laden in as many days – was the first time bin Laden spoke of the Palestinian question at length since the deteriorating situation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip where Israel imposed a siege in response to heavy rocket fire by Gaza militants.