bin laden tape; calls for truce with european countries..
story here: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...131392,00.html
and also another one on reuters: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...7§ion=news
The CIA says a tape claiming to be the voice of Osama bin Laden and offering a truce with Europe is probably authentic.
European states have dismissed the offer - which says countries will not be targets of terrorism if they withdraw troops from Muslim nations.
"After conducting a technical analysis, CIA assesses that the voice on the audio tape aired on Arab TV today is likely that of Osama bin Laden," a CIA official said.
The al Qaeda chief used the message to swear revenge on Israel for assassinating Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on March 22.
And he said there would be no truce with the US.
Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and France spurned what they suggested was an attempt to drive a wedge between Europe and America.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attempt "cannot and will not succeed because everybody knows that there is only one side on which the international community can be in the fight against terrorism.
"This is a murderous organisation which seeks impossible objectives by the most violent of means."
The message also says the March 11 train bombings in Madrid were revenge for Spain's participation in the US-led war on terror.
Almost 200 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured in the attacks.
The tape was aired on Dubai-based al Arabiya television, which says it was sent the audio tape.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said discussing a peace deal apparently offered by Osama bin Laden to European countries would be "unthinkable".
A German government spokesman said: "There can be no negotiations with terrorists and serious criminals like Osama bin Laden."
French president Jacques Chirac also said there would be no discussion with a terror group.
"Terrorism is a barbarous act that attacks innocent people. One cannot lean on religion or any other motivation to perpetrate terrorist acts," he said.
Poland dismissed the offer as a "trick" designed to prey on heightened fears after the al Qaeda-linked train bombings in Madrid.
"It would be a big, big mistake if people buy that, because it is an offer made by a terrorist," Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said.
European states have dismissed the offer - which says countries will not be targets of terrorism if they withdraw troops from Muslim nations.
"After conducting a technical analysis, CIA assesses that the voice on the audio tape aired on Arab TV today is likely that of Osama bin Laden," a CIA official said.
The al Qaeda chief used the message to swear revenge on Israel for assassinating Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on March 22.
And he said there would be no truce with the US.
Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and France spurned what they suggested was an attempt to drive a wedge between Europe and America.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attempt "cannot and will not succeed because everybody knows that there is only one side on which the international community can be in the fight against terrorism.
"This is a murderous organisation which seeks impossible objectives by the most violent of means."
The message also says the March 11 train bombings in Madrid were revenge for Spain's participation in the US-led war on terror.
Almost 200 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured in the attacks.
The tape was aired on Dubai-based al Arabiya television, which says it was sent the audio tape.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said discussing a peace deal apparently offered by Osama bin Laden to European countries would be "unthinkable".
A German government spokesman said: "There can be no negotiations with terrorists and serious criminals like Osama bin Laden."
French president Jacques Chirac also said there would be no discussion with a terror group.
"Terrorism is a barbarous act that attacks innocent people. One cannot lean on religion or any other motivation to perpetrate terrorist acts," he said.
Poland dismissed the offer as a "trick" designed to prey on heightened fears after the al Qaeda-linked train bombings in Madrid.
"It would be a big, big mistake if people buy that, because it is an offer made by a terrorist," Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said.
and also another one on reuters: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...7§ion=news
..
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