TIMELINE: Messages attributed to al Qaeda
(Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has urged European countries to end military participation with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Al Jazeera television said on Thursday.
Following is a chronology of major statements attributed to Osama bin Laden or his allies this year. Some 50 messages have been broadcast since Al Jazeera aired a statement by bin Laden following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Jan 22 - Second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri mocks President George W. Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.
Feb 13 - Zawahri says Bush's troop build-up in Iraq is a gamble bound to fail. He vows reprisals against Arab and Muslim countries supporting U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
March 11 - Zawahri says the leadership of Islamist group Hamas has surrendered to the Jews most of Palestine to keep heading the Palestinian government.
May 23 - Zawahri eulogizes Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah, killed in Afghanistan earlier in the month and urges his followers to pursue his fight against U.S.-led forces.
June 25 - Zawahri urges all Muslims to support Hamas in its battles with President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel.
July 4 - Zawahri talks about unity in jihad and calls for the overthrow of "corrupt" Muslim governments in a new video.
July 10 - Zawahri threatens more attacks on Britain two weeks after failed bombings in London and Glasgow.
Sept 7 - Bin Laden appears in a videotape marking the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He says the United States is vulnerable despite its economic and military power.
Sept 11 - Bin Laden eulogizes a September 11 hijacker. In the videotape, what appears to be bin Laden's voice can be heard over a still image of him, praising hijacker Waleed al-Shehri.
Sept 20 - Bin Laden vows to retaliate against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for the killing of a rebel cleric and a raid on his mosque.
Oct 22 - Bin Laden urges unity between Iraq's Sunni insurgents in message.
Nov 29 - Bin Laden urges European countries to end military participation with U.S. forces in the Afghan conflict.
(Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; editing by Matthew Tostevin)
