The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has confirmed the voice on an audio tape released Tuesday on the Internet is that of Osama bin Laden.
In the recording, bin Laden said imprisoned terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui had nothing to do with the September 11th, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The al-Qaida leader said Moussaoui was not the so-called 20th hijacker in the attacks. He said Moussaoui was still learning how to fly planes at the time. He also said Moussaoui falsely confessed to U.S. prosecutors, noting the confession was the result of pressure put on him while he was in prison.
Moussaoui pleaded guilty to six terror conspiracy charges last year and is now serving life in prison in the United States. During his trial, he said he was supposed to fly a plane into the White House, but he later said he had made up that remark.
Moussaoui is the only person convicted in the U.S. in connection with the September 11th attacks.
Bin Laden also said all but two prisoners at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had no connection with the September 11th attacks and knew nothing about the plan.
He did not reveal the names of those two detainees. He also said most of the prisoners at Guantanamo have no ties to al-Qaida.
In the recording, bin Laden said imprisoned terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui had nothing to do with the September 11th, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The al-Qaida leader said Moussaoui was not the so-called 20th hijacker in the attacks. He said Moussaoui was still learning how to fly planes at the time. He also said Moussaoui falsely confessed to U.S. prosecutors, noting the confession was the result of pressure put on him while he was in prison.
Moussaoui pleaded guilty to six terror conspiracy charges last year and is now serving life in prison in the United States. During his trial, he said he was supposed to fly a plane into the White House, but he later said he had made up that remark.
Moussaoui is the only person convicted in the U.S. in connection with the September 11th attacks.
Bin Laden also said all but two prisoners at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had no connection with the September 11th attacks and knew nothing about the plan.
He did not reveal the names of those two detainees. He also said most of the prisoners at Guantanamo have no ties to al-Qaida.