Website to carry new bin Laden tape on Iraq

Dubai, December 28: An Islamist Web site said on Friday it would carry a new recording from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden about "foiling plots" in Iraq.

The Web site said the 56-minute recording would also be about the Islamic State in Iraq, an al Qaeda-linked group in the country.

It did not say when the video or audio recording, produced by al Qaeda's media arm As-Sahab and entitled "The Path to Foiling Plots in Iraq", would be posted.

Al Qaeda messages have been often released within three days of their announcement on Web sites.

"May God expose the cover-up by Al Jazeera, the channel of the infidels," said the Web site, which is often used to issue messages from al Qaeda.

It was not clear whether this meant bin Laden would speak about a controversy in which his supporters have accused the popular news channel of misrepresenting his comments on Iraq.

Some Islamists have said Al Jazeera misrepresented bin Laden's views by airing excerpts of comments he made in October that insurgents had made mistakes in Iraq because of fanaticism.

While the Iraqi wing of al Qaeda remains at the forefront of many groups fighting U.S. forces and the Shi'ite-led government supported by Washington, its fighters have faced growing opposition in the Sunni areas of Iraq where they operate.

Angered by deadly attacks against Iraqis who fail to follow their hardline interpretation of Islam, Sunni tribes have begun to turn against the al Qaeda militants they once backed.

An increase in U.S. troops, more efficient Iraqi security forces and new neighbourhood patrols organised by mainly Sunni Arab tribes have been credited with a decline in violence and a fall in civilian and U.S. military casualties in the past two months.

New tape: Bin Laden urges Europe to quit Afghanistan

Dubai, November 30: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged European countries to end their military cooperation with US forces in Afghanistan, in an audio tape aired by Al Jazeera television Thursday.

He said American power was waning and it would be wise for the Europeans to quickly end their role in Afghanistan, where many European countries contribute to the 50,000-strong NATO and US-led coalition forces fighting his Taliban allies.

"With the grace of God... the American tide is receding and they would eventually return to their home across the Atlantic... It is in your interest to force the hand of your politicians (away from) the White House," said a speaker in the recording who sounded like bin Laden.

He said the United States would soon leave the region, leaving Afghanistan's neighbours 'to settle their scores'.

In Washington, a US counter-terrorism official said the voice on the audio tape appeared to be bin Laden's. It was not immediately clear when the new message was recorded.

The United States led the invasion of Afghanistan to depose its Taliban rulers in late 2001, after they refused to hand over bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders following the Sept 11 attacks on the United States.

Bin Laden did not make any threat in the portions of the recording aired by Jazeera. The full tape is yet to be released by an Islamist website which said Monday it would carry it. Pro-Qaeda militants have accused Al Jazeera of omitting important parts of the last bin Laden tape.

DEFENDING TALIBAN

In the portions aired by Jazeera, bin Laden said the Taliban had no knowledge of plans for the 2001 attacks.

"I am the one responsible... The Afghan people and government knew nothing whatsoever about these events," he said, adding that the United States had not provided any evidence of Taliban involvement to justify its invasion.

"Europe marched behind it with no choice, but to be a lackey," bin Laden said.

"I'm addressing you (Europeans) and not your politicians... (who) like to be in the shadow of the White House as many third world leaders," he said, naming current and former leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Italy, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The United States has been urging its NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, but European nations remain reluctant to commit further reinforcements.

Among European countries with troops in Afghanistan are Britain, Germany and France. The West says coalition forces aim to help bring security to allow reconstruction after decades of conflict.

But Afghanistan has seen a steady rise in violence since the Taliban relaunched their insurgency to overthrow the pro-Western Afghan government and eject foreign troops two years ago.

Bin Laden accused foreign forces of committing atrocities in Afghanistan.

"Most victims of your bombardments are purposely children and women. And you know that our (Muslim) women do not fight, but you target them even during festivities to break the morale of the mujahideen (holy war fighters)," he said.

Bin Laden's last message was released on Oct 22. The Saudi-born militant then urged unity between Iraq's Sunni insurgents.