TIMELINE: Messages attributed to al Qaeda

(Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused Washington of plotting to take control of Iraq's oil and urged Iraqis to reject efforts to rebuild a U.S.-backed national unity government in an Internet posting on Saturday.

Following is a chronology of some statements attributed to bin Laden or his allies in 2007. 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 a U.S. troop build-up in Iraq will fail and vows reprisals against Arab and Muslim states backing 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.

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 and 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 among Iraq's Sunni insurgents.

Nov 29 - Bin Laden urges European countries to end military participation with U.S. forces in the Afghan conflict.

Dec 14 - Zawahri denounces Saudi Arabia and Egypt, saying they were serving Israel and U.S. interests by attending a U.S. conference in Annapolis.

Dec 16 - Zawahri says Britain's handover of security in southern Iraq shows insurgents are gaining the upper hand there.