A new statement attributed to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden urges Muslims to show solidarity with Iraq.
The audio-tape statement was broadcast by the Qatari based Al-Jazeera satellite television station today (Tuesday). The voice said to be Osama bin Laden's says it has been carefully following U-S plans to invade Iraq and steal what it describes as "the wealth of the Muslims."
The voice promises to support Iraq in the event on an invasion by what it calls "the infidels."
The 16-minute statement also calls on Muslims to overthrow leaderships that work as "a slave" to the United States, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The U-S State Department says spokesman Richard Boucher will appear on Al-Jazeera later today (Tuesday) to respond to the statement.
Earlier, U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell said the message shows why the world needs to be concerned about Iraqi ties to terrorism.
Secretary Powell said the link between terrorists and states that are developing weapons of mass destruction can no longer be ignored.