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Bin Laden video 'shows desperation'

Adapted from a report from the BBC

Date: November 4, 2001

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Bin Laden's whereabouts are still unknown

Britain and the US have the latest recorded video message by Osama Bin Laden as an act of desperation which would

him from moderate Muslims. The Saudi-born dissident, who is hiding in Afghanistan, accused Muslims supporting the US-led "anti-terror" campaign of their faith, and called for a holy war to defend the Afghan people.

White House spokeswoman Anne Womack said: "This is more that shows how isolated Bin Laden is from the rest of the world."

In the address, broadcast by the Arabic-language television channel al-Jazeera, Osama bin Laden also sharply the United Nations and denounced the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, as a criminal. Bin Laden, chief suspect in the 11 September attacks on the US, also denounced as " " Arab leaders who co-operated with the UN.

Crowds of Bin Laden supporters have demonstrated in Pakistan. He said the in Afghanistan was "primarily a religious war" between Christianity and Islam.

Condemning US President George Bush's " ," he said "it is a certain fact that Bush carried the cross high... Whoever stands behind Bush has committed an act that stands as of their Islam".

Editors at al-Jazeera say the tape was delivered to their offices in the Afghan capital Kabul. It is the fifth statement they have received from Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation since the beginning of October - most of them in the form of pre-recorded videotapes - but only the second Bin Laden himself.

Muslim nervousness

The video's release came fresh signs of nervousness in the Muslim world at the bombing campaign, which is about to enter its fifth week. Pakistani leader General Pervez Musharraf, a key in the campaign against Afghanistan, said "very serious consideration" should be given to a pause in the bombing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

President George W Bush has that out. He said on Friday: "The enemy won't rest during Ramadan and neither will we."

Bin Laden said there was no linking Afghanistan to the 11 September attacks on the United States. "The entire West, with the exception of a few countries, supports this unfair, campaign, although there is no of the involvement of the people of Afghanistan in what happened in New York. The people of Afghanistan had nothing to do with this matter. The campaign, however, continues to unjustly villagers and civilians: children, women, and innocent people," he said.

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