TIMELINE: Messages attributed to al Qaeda

Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:59pm EST
 
[-] Text [+]

(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)

 

Featured Broker sponsored link

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video
Bernd Debusmann
A paradox of plenty: Hunger in America

In the world’s wealthiest country, home to more obese people than anywhere else on earth, one in six Americans struggled to feed themselves and their children in 2008. Millions went hungry, at least some of the time. Things are bound to get worse.  Commentary