The al-Qaida leader, who has been in hiding for years, said Wednesday in an audiotape that Europeans will experience a "severe reckoning" for the cartoons, The Washington Post reported.

"It paled when you went overboard in your unbelief ... and went to the extent of publishing those insulting drawings," bin Laden said in the five-minute recording. "If there is no check on your freedom of words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions."

It was bin Laden's second speech in four months targeting European countries. He also criticized Europe for participating in military actions in Islamic nations, The Post reported. In passing, he referred to U.S. President George Bush as Europe's "aggressive ally ... who is about to depart the White House."

The audiotape was released by As-Sahab, the Islamic terrorist group's media arm. The organization also issued a still photograph of bin Laden holding a rifle.