August 12, 2004
MIKE COLLETT-WHITE
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
ISLAMABAD—Osama bin Laden has called for attacks on targets in the United States and Britain, Pakistani intelligence sources said yesterday, but it was not clear if his appeal was accompanied by more detailed orders.
"Osama has given the go-ahead to target important places and personalities in the U.S., U.K. and Pakistan," one Pakistani intelligence source said.
The sources played down a report yesterday in The Washington Times that a tape from bin Laden might surface soon that would act as a signal for attacks to be launched.
The newspaper, citing U.S. intelligence officials, said Al Qaeda would target an American or foreign leader either within the United States or abroad.
The sketch of a plot to target U.S. President George W. Bush surfaced in an online magazine of Al Qaeda's organization in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
An answer to a Saut al-Jihad reader's query said: "The plan you have drawn up to assassinate Bush is good but would need a lot of preparation. Perhaps you can take part in it, if possible, and thanks." There were no further details given and the reader's question was not published.
A Middle East security expert said it would be rare for a known Al Qaeda figure to discuss a detailed plan on a website. He said the message might have some "operational value," but using Bush's name indicated any possible plot was in an early stage.
Pakistani intelligence agencies have been questioning key Al Qaeda figures captured in the last month in a crackdown that has yielded a wealth of information about the network's personnel and plots to strike targets inside the country and abroad.
They include Tanzanian Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, wanted for the attacks on U.S. embassies in east Africa in 1998, Qari Saifullah Akhtar, a key Al Qaeda operational chief in Pakistan, and computer engineer Mohammad Naeem Noor Khan.
Khan's laptop computer has revealed information on Al Qaeda's plans to launch attacks, including in the United States and on Heathrow airport in London.
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