Bin Laden urges US to convert
In the tape, Bin Laden says it his organisation's duty to "escalate the killing and fighting" against the US
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Saturday, 08, Sep 2007 08:40
Al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden has released a new tape mocking the United States' military and economic power; urging its citizens to convert to Islam.
The tape, released ahead of the sixth anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington on September 11th, shows Bin Laden sitting in front of a banner saying: "A message from Sheikh Osama Bin Laden to the American people."
In the tape, whose authenticity has only been verified by initial testing, Bin Laden discusses the effects of the war on terror and says that the US could not prevent the attacks on 9/11 in spite of being "the biggest economic power" and having the "most modern military arsenal".
In the tape, which refers to UK and French prime ministers Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy, Bin Laden also says that the American people had committed a mistake by re-electing George Bush as president.
"You permitted Bush to complete his first term, and stranger still, chose him for a second term, which gave him a clear mandate from you - with your full knowledge and consent - to continue to murder our people in Iraq and Afghanistan," he added.
He also said that it was his organisation's duty to "escalate the killing and fighting" against the US and appealed to the country to embrace Islam as a way to end violence.
In response to the tape's release, Mr Bush said: "The tape is a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live and it is a reminder that we must work together to protect our people.
"Therefore it's important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves and deny al-Qaida safe haven," he added.