Homeland Security

DATE=1/5/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BIN LADEN / TAPE (L)

NUMBER=2-311509

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An audiotape purportedly made by terrorist leader Osama bin Laden was aired late Sunday in the Arab world in which the speaker suggests that unless the U-S occupation of Iraq is ended, the entire region will one day be occupied by U-S forces. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte monitored the broadcast from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: The person on the audio tape calls on all Muslims to wage holy war against the United States and its allies.

The Arab-language television network al-Jazeera broadcast the tape late Sunday and identified the speaker as al-Qaida terror network leader Osama bin Laden.

The speaker on the tape says the occupation of Iraq is a step toward the occupation of the rest of the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia.

/// ACT OF MAN ON TAPE ///

The speaker says the occupation of Iraq is nothing but a prelude to the occupation of the entire Arab world.

He says the fight is us against them, evil versus good and will last until the end of time. He says that if Muslims don't defend Iraq today, tomorrow Saudi Arabia will be occupied.

He said it is a religious and economic war that must be fought with arms, not dialogue.

The tape also mentions the arrest of an Arab leader who the speaker said was a former collaborator with the United States, apparently referring to ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who had normal relations with Washington prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

The recording is the first attributed to Osama bin Laden in several months.

Such tapes have concerned U-S officials, who fear the tapes could either prompt or be a signal for future terrorist attacks.

Such attacks have occurred in the past following broadcasts of tapes purporting to be the terrorist leader. (Signed)

NEB/GL/ALW/RH