BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- In a new audiotape said to have been made by Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader accuses the United States of trying to build a regional base in Iraq.

Bin Laden also denounced Sunni Iraqis like Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha who ally themselves with U.S. forces, PressTV in Iran reported. The leader of the Anbar Awakening Council died in a bombing in September allegedly carried out by al-Qaida.

"The most evil of the traitors are those who trade away their religion for the sake of their mortal life," bin Laden said.

Bin Laden promised a continued "jihad" against Israel.

Bin Laden is believed to be living in the tribal areas of Pakistan near the Afghan border.

Bhutto's son named chair of PPP

LARKANA, Pakistan, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Benazir Bhutto's19-year-old son, Bilawel Bhutto, has reportedly been named head of his late mother's Pakistan People's Party.

Bhutto's husband, Asif Zardari, along with party deputy leader Makhdoom Fahim and President Mehmood Qureshi will act as co-chairs, New Deli Television Ltd., NDTV, reported Sunday.

Earlier Sunday, Benazir Bhutto's assistant cautioned the opposition party against putting too much responsibility on the shoulders of a teenager, NDTV reported.

Sherry Rehman told NDTV Bilawel wants to focus on his studies and she did not rule out an interim leader until he was ready to take the PPP helm.

Olmert: Palestinians must fight terror

JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday warned the Palestinian Authority to crack down on terror if it wants changes in the West Bank.

Olmert told his cabinet Israel will make no "changes on the ground" as long as Israeli citizens face the threat of terrorist attacks, Ynetnews.com reported.

"We will not compromise on these issues and they will continue to be an integral part of any discussions we hold with the PA," Olmert said, noting Friday's killing of two off-duty Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen near Hebron.

Cpl. Ahikam Amihai, 20, and Sgt. David Ruben, 21, were hiking through the Telem Creek area when four Palestinians drove up and opened fire, Ynetnews.com reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai Sunday urged a complete halt to all negotiations with the Palestinians.

"Talks must be suspended whenever there are casualties," Yishai said. "The Palestinians should stop demanding that we comply with the road map for peace before they live up to their own commitments."

Supporters mark Saddam's death

BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Security was high in Iraq Sunday as supporters of President Saddam Hussein marked the first anniversary of his death.

"If we see any criminal acts aimed at harming our fellow citizens, there are preparations and procedures in place to make certain that such attempts fail," Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf told the BBC.

Saddam was convicted of crimes against humanity for ordering the killings of an estimated 150 Shiite Muslims in Dujail in the 1980s.

About 2,000 supporters marked Saddam's death Saturday in Amman, Jordan, and his supporters in Iraq were expected to gather Sunday in his hometown of Tikrit and at his nearby grave.

Saddam's top aides are awaiting execution for ordering chemical gas attacks against Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Among the condemned is Saddam's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali."