September 20, 2007

Bin Laden Threatens Musharraf In New Tape

UPDATED.

Osama bin Laden, the elusive leader of al-Qaida who has come out of the woodwork in recent weeks, reportedly urges Pakistanis to rebel against their leader, President Pervez Musharraf, in a new recording released today.

Bin Laden's appeal for Musharraf's removal is in response to the killing of a rebel cleric during a government raid on his mosque in Islamabad last July.

The storming of the Red Mosque "demonstrated Musharraf's insistence on continuing his loyalty, submissiveness and aid to America against the Muslims ... and makes armed rebellion against him and removing him obligatory,'' bin Laden said in the message.

Meanwhile, the al-Qaida terrorist organization has also released a new video message "in which bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, boasted that the United States was being defeated in Afghanistan, Iraq and other fronts" and "promised more fighting in Afghanistan, North Africa and Sudan's Darfur region." AP has details of the video.

The fresh threats from bin Laden come amid a string of troubles for the Pakistani leader, a key U.S. ally in the war on terror. Recent clashes between the Pakistani army and Islamic militants have prompted growing concerns that Pakistan is becoming a hotbed of terrorism. Musharraf is also dealing with political headaches, including a Supreme Court challenge to his re-election bid and the push for a power-sharing agreement with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The Pakistani government today set the presidential election date for Oct. 6. Earlier this week, officials said Musharraf would abandon his military post to seek the civilian office.

In an op-ed in today's Washington Post, Bhutto explains the motives behind her recent dealings with Musharraf and her vision of a democratic Pakistan free from the threat of political and religious extremism.

Posted at 11:12 AM
Posted to: Al-Qaida, Asia, Pakistan, Terrorism
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