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New Bin Laden message attacks EU over cartoons

An internet audio message purportedly from Osama bin Laden was released last night in which the al-Qaida leader threatened the EU over the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad two years ago, but did not address contemporary issues.

The five-minute speech, played over an old still image of Bin Laden holding an AK-47, is the first such message to be released since December. Although apparently timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the message on a militant website appeared more closely linked to yesterday's anniversary of Muhammad's birth.

He said the cartoons were part of a crusade in which the Pope was involved.

"Your publications of these drawings - part of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican had a significant role - is a confirmation from you that the war continues," he said. "You went overboard in your unbelief and freed yourselves of the etiquettes of dispute and fighting and went to the extent of publishing these insulting drawings," said a voice believed to be Bin Laden's.

He warned European countries they were "testing" Muslims and said "the answer will be what you shall see and not what you hear".

The video also carried a graphic of a spear piercing through a red map of Europe.

A former CIA official, Michael Scheuer, told Reuters: "It's not a coincidence that it was released on the day that is observed in the Muslim world as the Prophet's birthday."

He added: "It's only ominous when he says 'don't listen to our words, watch for our actions' ... that means they clearly are intending to attack in Europe."

Last month several Danish newspapers reprinted one of the cartoons depicting Muhammad, claiming they wanted to emphasise freedom of speech after an alleged plot to kill one of the cartoonists responsible for the drawings.

When the cartoons were first published in 2005, furious protests erupted in Muslim countries which led to the deaths of 50 people. Islam forbids any depiction of the prophet.

In the latest message, Bin Laden also touched on the row over alleged kickbacks paid to Saudi officials as part of the multibillion dollar al-Yamamah arms deal with Britain.

He said King Abdullah "ordered your legal institutions to stop their investigations into the embezzlement of the billions from the al-Yamamah deal and Blair carried this out and he is today your representative in the quartet".

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