Bin Laden Said to Urge Youth Against U.S.

October 18, 2003; 12:30 PM
The Associated Press

CAIRO, Egypt - A voice purported to be Osama bin Laden's warned Iraqis in an audiotape aired on Al-Jazeera television Saturday not to cooperate with U.S. occupiers and urged youth in neighboring nations to wage holy war in Iraq.


"We call on all Muslims and Iraqis ... beware of working with the American forces. ... Whoever works with them is an infidel," said the speaker in the tape.

"You young people of Islam everywhere, especially from neighboring states, and Yemen, you have to go wage jihad (holy war) 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," the speaker said.

It was the first tape purported to be from the al-Qaida leader since Sept. 10, when Al-Jazeera screened a videotape that contained a pair of voiceovers, one purportedly from bin Laden and the other from his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri.

The CIA said two days later that analysts believed bin Laden's voice on the tape was probably authentic.

In Saturday's tape, the voice also warned of possible attacks on nations helping the U.S. occupation in Iraq. Washington has been pressing other nations to send troops to help U.S.-led forces stabilize Iraq. So far, Turkey and South Korea have said they would send troops.

"America is embroiled in the swamps of Tigris and the Euphrates (rivers). America is in real trouble ... it is now screaming for help, from the lowest of people," he said.

President 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," he said.

Al-Jazeera broadcast two audiotapes Saturday. 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," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45650-2003Oct18?language=printer