'Bin Laden' tape threatens U.S. allies

CAIRO, Egypt — In a new audiotape aired Saturday, a voice purported to be Osama bin Laden vowed suicide attacks "inside and outside" the United States and threatened nations that are helping the American occupation of Iraq.

The speaker in the tape, broadcast throughout the Arab world by the Al-Jazeera television station, also warned Iraqis against cooperating with U.S. forces and urged youth in neighboring nations to join a jihad, or holy war, against the Americans.

"We reserve the right to respond at the appropriate time and place against all the countries participating in this unjust war, particularly Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy," the voice said.

"The Islamic countries who participate will not be exempt, especially the Gulf countries, most prominent among them is Kuwait, the launching base for infantry troops of the crusaders."

It was the first tape since one released on the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks — and the new message came as President Bush was on a tour of Asian nations rallying allies in the war on terrorism.

The United States is pushing more nations to send troops to Iraq to help U.S.-led forces trying to stabilize the country. Even as U.S. troops have faced on ongoing guerrilla resistance — blamed on Saddam Hussein loyalists — a series of deadly suicide bombings has taken place in the past two months, mostly in Baghdad, whose authors are still not known.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said authorities would analyze the new tape.

"It is a reminder that the global war on terror continues," said McClellan, with Bush in Bangkok, Thailand, at an economic summit.

"Terrorists are enemies of the civilized world who seek to spread fear and chaos and they have no regard for innocent life."

The speaker on the tape held back a sob when addressing the Iraqi people, telling them he shares their concerns and saluting them on their jihad.

"God knows if I could find a way to your field, I wouldn't stall," the speaker said.

"You my brother fighters in Iraq . . . I tell you: You are God's soldiers and the arrows of Islam, and the first line of defense for this (Muslim) nation today . . . so don't (fail) the Muslims today."

The speaker said this is his second message to the Iraqi people. In February, an audiotaped message believed to be from bin Laden urged Iraqis to carry out suicide attacks against Americans and draw U.S. troops into combat in Iraqi cities.

The Qatar-based satellite station Al-Jazeera received the recording Saturday from a "trusted source" who called and offered the audiotape, news editor Ibrahim Hilal said.

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