Homeland Security

DATE=5-21-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S-TERROR TAPE (S-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-303493

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States has angrily criticized the Arab satellite T-V network al-Jazeera for carrying a taped message, purportedly by senior al-Qaida terrorist figure Ayman al-Zawahri, urging Muslims to carry out attacks against westerners. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he protested to the foreign minister of Qatar, al-Jazeera's host government. VOA's David Gollust from the State Department.

TEXT: Officials here say al-Jazeera's broadcast of the 11-minute audio tape which was full of threats against the United States, its Iraq war allies and moderate Arab states was irresponsible journalism and particularly unwelcome at a time of heightened alert against terror attacks.

In a talk with reporters, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he had personally complained about the broadcast to his counterpart from Qatar. He said there is no way to confirm the authenticity of the tape but that either way, it can only inflame the current situation:

///POWELL ACTUALITY///

Do we know if it is an accurate tape? Is it not accurate? Who knows? But in any event it is heightening tension throughout the world, and it spreads more hatred throughout the world, and I wish they had made a different editorial judgement about it.

///END ACT///

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the tape a "hateful diatribe" and said U-S officials had also raised concerns about it directly with top officials of al-Jazeera. (Signed)

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