This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8477413.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
'Bin Laden' lauds Christmas plot 'Bin Laden' lauds Christmas plot
(about 4 hours later)
A tape said to be from Osama Bin Laden says al-Qaeda was responsible for a Christmas plot to blow up a plane.A tape said to be from Osama Bin Laden says al-Qaeda was responsible for a Christmas plot to blow up a plane.
In the newly released audio tape aired on al-Jazeera, Bin Laden also warns the US there will be more attacks if it continues to support Israel. In the newly released audio tape aired on al-Jazeera, the speaker also warns the US there will be more attacks if it continues to support Israel.
"If it was possible to carry our messages to you by words we wouldn't have carried them to you by planes," the tape says. "If it was possible to carry our messages to you by words we wouldn't have carried them to you by planes," the voice said to be Bin Laden's says.
The authenticity of the tape has not been verified.The authenticity of the tape has not been verified.
This is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds Andy David,Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Is Bin Laden dead or alive? Timeline: Search for Bin LadenThis is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds Andy David,Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Is Bin Laden dead or alive? Timeline: Search for Bin Laden
It says: "The message sent to you with the attempt by the hero Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is a confirmation of our previous message conveyed by the heroes of September 11."It says: "The message sent to you with the attempt by the hero Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is a confirmation of our previous message conveyed by the heroes of September 11."
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been charged with attempting to blow up a Delta Airlines plane as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. The bomb hidden in his underwear failed to explode.Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been charged with attempting to blow up a Delta Airlines plane as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. The bomb hidden in his underwear failed to explode.
He said he was trained by al-Qaeda in Yemen. He said he had been trained by al-Qaeda in Yemen.
'No safe life''No safe life'
The speaker on the tape says that the message is from "Osama to Obama". The voice recording says that the message is from "Osama to Obama".
Directly addressing Americans, it also says: "It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly... Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel."Directly addressing Americans, it also says: "It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly... Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel."
It says: "America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine." It goes on: "America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine."
Reacting to the latest audio tape, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Andy David told Associated Press news agency: "This is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds." White House adviser David Axelrod said the US could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the tape.
"But assuming that it is him [Bin Laden], his message contains the same hollow justifications for the mass slaughter of innocents that we've heard before," Mr Axelrod told CNN.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Andy David told Associated Press news agency: "This is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds."
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he needed to study the message but pointed to the importance of the Detroit plot as "an attack on the West rather than an attack within the Middle East".UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he needed to study the message but pointed to the importance of the Detroit plot as "an attack on the West rather than an attack within the Middle East".
He added: "It obviously demonstrates both the dangers that exist, but also the links that can exist between different terrorist groups."He added: "It obviously demonstrates both the dangers that exist, but also the links that can exist between different terrorist groups."
The al-Qaeda leader issues sporadic tape messages.The al-Qaeda leader issues sporadic tape messages.
In September, a 10-minute audio tape warned President Barack Obama he was "powerless" to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.In September, a 10-minute audio tape warned President Barack Obama he was "powerless" to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Another audio tape in June last year accused Mr Obama of fuelling hatred of America in Pakistan.Another audio tape in June last year accused Mr Obama of fuelling hatred of America in Pakistan.
The last purported Bin Laden video appeared in September 2007, when he referred to recently elected leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The last purported Bin Laden video appeared in September 2007, when he referred to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had recently come to power.