DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Osama bin Laden has issued a new threat against U.S. economic interests and explained the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to an audiotape released Sunday by the Al-Jazeera television network.
The network broadcast a two-minute recording of what it said was the voice of bin Laden, the head of the al Qaida terrorist network, which was blamed for last year's attacks on the United States.
The short message was broadcast with a picture of bin Laden in the background. Bin Laden said his message was addressed to the American people, whom he urged to "understand the message of the New York and Washington attacks which came in response to some of your previous crime."
United Press International has not been able to determine whether the speaker is bin Laden or when the tape was recorded.
"By God, the youths of God are preparing for you things that would fill your hearts with terror and target your economic lifeline until you stop your oppression and aggression," said the voice in the audiotape.
The speaker in Arabic added: "If we follow the act of these criminal bandits at the White House, the Jewish agents, who are preparing for an attack on the Muslim world and dividing it up, without you opposing them, one would think that you don't understand the attacks at all."
The broadcast came on the eve of the first anniversary of the start of the U.S.-led military campaign against al Qaida and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Based in Qatar, Al-Jazeera has received and broadcast messages from al Qaida leaders in the past. The satellite station began operations in November 1996.
