Bin Laden Said to Offer Gold for Killings

Thursday, May 6, 2004

(5:27 PM ET)

By Maggie Michael

Associated Press Writer

``The so-called handing sovereignty over to Iraqis is an overt trick, to anesthetize the people and abort the militant resistance, and will not deceive the true mujahedeen of the sons of Iraq. There is no sovereignty for Iraq as long as a crusader solider remains in its land, and no sovereignty for Iraq as long as it is not ruled by Islam. [...] Therefore, jihad is obligatory for all Muslims in Iraq.''

CAIRO, Egypt -- AP
A statement attributed to Osama bin Laden offered rewards in gold valued at nearly $136,000 Thursday for the killing of top U.S. and U.N. officials in Iraq.

The transcript of an audio recording dated Thursday appeared on two Web sites known for militant Islamic messages. The Web sites gave links to hear the statement, but none were working. The authenticity of the statement could not immediately be verified.

Bin Laden had never been known to offer rewards for missions he had described as followers' religious duty to carry out.

``You know that America promised big rewards for those who kill mujahedeen (holy warriors),'' the transcript read. ``We in al-Qaida organization will guarantee, God willing, 10,000 grams of gold to whoever kills the occupier Bremer, or the American chief commander or his deputy in Iraq.''

It was referring to L. Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, and top military officials.

``For security reasons, the rewards will be given as soon as conditions permit, God willing,'' the transcript read. ``As for those who die while killing an occupying solider, the great prize will be for us and for him when God grants him martyrdom, and the smaller prize (the gold) will be for his family.''

The statement also promised the same reward for the deaths of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi.

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2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan