In further remarks broadcast this evening, Osama bin Laden has appealed to Muslims to "defend their religion and brothers in Afghanistan," and said that any Muslim who supports the US-backed military campaign in Afghanistan was an apostate from Islam.
"It is a certain fact that Bush carried the cross high... Whoever stands behind Bush has committed an act that stands as annulment of their Islam," bin Laden said in a videotaped statement broadcast on al-Jazeera Arabic satellite television.
"This war is primarily a religious war, he said, describing the US military campaign in Afghanistan designed to flush out the Saudi-born Islamic militant named as prime suspect in the September attacks on the United States.
Bin Laden said no distinction should be made between Israel and its ally the United States. "Those who make a distinction between America and Israel are traitors," and he appealed to Muslims to "defend their religion and brothers in Afghanistan".
Earlier today, bin Laden issued another videotaped statement saying the Afghan people were not to blame for the September 11th attacks and accusing the UN of crimes against Muslims by approving the US bombing of Afghanistan.
Bin Laden appeared in footage broadcast by the Arabic satellite television channel al-Jazeera , in his third public statement since the attacks on New York and Washington.
The Saudi-born guerrilla leader described the UN as a tool of crime against Muslims and said Arab leaders who cooperated with the world body were infidels.
"The United Nations is a crime tool," the Saudi-born dissident said in a recorded statement. "We [Muslims] are being slaughtered every day and it [the UN] does not move.
UN special representative Lakhdar Brahimi met Pakistani and Afghan leaders this week and was to visit Iran next to discuss how a new Afghan government might replace the ruling Taliban, bin Laden's protectors.
The governments of Muslim states bordering Afghanistan plan to meet again with US, Chinese and Russian officials later this month for further talks on the question.
"Those who claim to be Arab leaders and are still [cooperating] with the United Nations are infidels," said bin Laden. He appeared on the footage wearing traditional headdress and a military camouflage jacket, and with an automatic rifle propped at his side against a brown wall or screen behind him.
"Today without any evidence the United Nations is pedalling resolutions in support of America... against the weak who just emerged from a massive war by the Soviet Union," he said.
"The people of Afghanistan have nothing to do with this matter (the attacks on the United States), said bin Laden, without saying who was to blame. But the campaign continues annihilating villagers, women and children without a right."
There was no indication as to when the statement was recorded, but bin Laden's remarks suggest it was after the October 7th start of the US bombing of Afghanistan.
Bin Laden blamed the UN for the creation of the state of Israel, by approving a resolution that surrendered the land of Islam for the Jews in 1947.
The channel broadcast parts of the statements and said it would air more from 6.00 p.m. Irish Time today.