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Osama bin Laden’s War on 'Crusaders'
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
By Toby Harnden / Washington
Andy McSmith & Ben Aris / Moscow

In a further sign of how the terrorist attacks have transformed the geopolitical landscape, Mr. Vladimir Putin said Russia was willing to share intelligence with Washington.

Telegraph Group Limited
The terrorist Osama bin Laden defiantly declared yesterday that his al-Qa'eda forces were "steadfast on the path of jihad with the heroic, faithful Afghan people".

He urged Muslims to defend Islam against "the American crusade" and described as "martyrs in the battle of Islam" the pro-Taliban Pakistanis who were killed in protests last week against their government's support for the West.

Bin Laden said they were protesting against the "infidel forces" led by "the Chief Crusader Bush under the banner of the cross". The statement released to Qatar's Al-Jazeera satellite channel, with clear references to President Bush's early use of the word "crusade", was signed by bin Laden with Sunday's date.

It did not answer allegations that he masterminded the attacks on New York and Washington two weeks ago, but he has denied involvement twice already.
(More: News.Telegrapgh.Co.UK News Source)
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2001

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