Bin Laden: Insurgents must unite in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- In his third message so far this year, Osama bin Laden Monday urged insurgent groups in Iraq to work together against the U.S. military.

"Unite your lines into one," the al-Qaida leader said in an audio recording played on the al-Jazeera Arabic language TV news channel, and reported by ABC News.

"Don't be arrogant," bin Laden warns the leaders of the various insurgent groups. "Your enemies are trying to break up the jihadi groups. It's critical that we work in one united group."

Saying he was speaking to "everyone in the Muslim community," bin Laden urged "scholars and leaders of the jihad" to take on the role of uniting the groups "right now."

ABC News said U.S. agencies were still studying the recording, which cannot be dated as it makes no reference to any events. "People familiar with bin Laden's voice" said the message "appeared to be authentic," reported ABC News.