On the eve of the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a new video of one of the world's most wanted men, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy, was aired on Wednesday on Al Jazeera television.
The footage was made in late April or early May, the broadcaster said.
An accompanying audiotape attributed to the deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, urged Iraqi fighters to "bury" US troops in Iraq.
The videotape showed Osama bin Laden walking carefully down a rocky hillside with a walking stick, wearing Afghan-style clothes. He was accompanied by an aide carrying an automatic rifle.
In some segments of the video, the aide walking with bin Laden appeared to be al-Zawahri.
There was nothing in the video itself, however, to indicate when the footage was actually filmed.
In the audiotape attributed to al-Zawahri, the speaker refers to US troops in Iraq - an indication that it was made after American troops invaded into Iraq last March.
"We salute the mujahedeen brothers in Iraq and press on their hands and ask Allah to bless their sacrifices and valor in fighting the Crusaders," the speaker says. "We tell you that Allah is with you and the (Islamic) nation supports you. Depend on Allah. Devour the Americans just like the lions devour their prey. Bury them in the Iraqi graveyard."
The voice attributed to al-Zawahri referred to the second anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"On the second anniversary of the raids on New York and Washington we challenge America and its Crusade, which is teetering from its wounds in Afghanistan and Iraq," the speaker says. "We tell them that we do not seek to kill, but we will chop off the hand which seeks to inflict harm on us, God willing."
Furthermore, the voice threatened more attacks on Americans. "What you saw until now are only the first skirmishes," the voice says. "The true epic has not begun."
It says that the mothers of American soldiers should demand that the U.S. government return them home before they "return in coffins." In addition, he accused the Americans of hiding the true number of their casualties. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
