An Arabic television
station has broadcast an audio tape it says was made by a spokesman
for the al-Qaida terror network, claiming Osama bin Laden is alive.
According to Dubai-based Arabic television station al-Arabiya,
the audio tape was made by al-Qaida spokesman Abdel Rahman al-Najdi
in Afghanistan. However, the identity of the speaker has not been
confirmed.
On the tape, the speaker says Osama bin Laden is alive and doing
well. The speaker says Afghanistan's ousted Taleban leader, Mullah
Omar, is also still alive.
The whereabouts of both men remain unknown.
The man on the audio tape urges Muslims to fight U.S. troops
in Iraq, calling it a holy war against occupying forces in the
country.
The television station did not say how it came into possession
of the audio tape, although it has broadcast many such tapes purported
to be from groups like al-Qaida and Taleban.