Source: http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/sep/12ny15.htm
Osama denies involvement
Muhammad Najeeb in Islamabad - 12 September 2001 Saudi dissident Osama bin
Laden has denied involvement in the United States terror attacks, but justified the killing of
thousands in Washington and New York as "reaction against oppressors". A statement carried by the
Pakistani Urdu newspaper Ausaf quoted bin Laden, who lives in
Afghanistan, as saying, "I don't have any link to the US attacks, but I
second it as it is the reaction against oppressors." The story by Ausaf editor
Hamid Mir said bin Laden's statement was read out to him by a Laden special envoy
who translated it from Arabic to Urdu. Laden, the daily said,
appreciated those who committed Tuesday's horrendous terrorist attacks in the
U.S. He added, however, that the majority of those dead were innocent people. "But those being
killed in Palestine are also innocent. Who cares about those innocent people?
The terrorist US is fully behind those killings." Bin Laden, accused by
Washington of carrying out deadly bombings of US embassies in Africa in 1998,
also warned the United States against attacking him in Afghanistan. "The US will be in
more danger if they tried to kill me. If they will kill one Osama, hundreds of
Osamas will stand against them." He said he was on a
"holy mission" and would soon complete it. He said his mission was to
liberate Palestine from Jews. "I promise to fulfil my mission with the
help of my followers." Bin Laden also claimed that
thousands of Muslim youths were committed to stand by him. "They are even
ready for suicidal missions. Moreover dozens of Muslim scientists who are
experts in different fields have assured me their knowledge and expertise
against anti-Islam forces." He said the jihad against
anti-Islamic forces would continue "until atrocities against Muslims
stopped. There are many Muslims like me who after quitting luxurious life have
come to the path of jihad. And we will continue the jihad against
infidels. "We don't possess any
chemical weapon but our morale is even higher than all those who have nuclear
bombs. We'll force the U.S. to change its policies and quit the anti-Islam
agenda." Earlier, immediately after
the terrorist attacks, an official of Afghanistan's ruling Taleban denied the
involvement of the Taleban and bin Laden in the strikes but warned that any
retaliation against Kabul would be "a big mistake." "We condemn the attack
and make it clear that we are not involved in it any way," Online news
agency quoted Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef Mugf as telling
reporters in Islamabad late Tuesday. "Osama bin Laden has
no facilities to make such a big planning. We don't expect the US to attack us
on mere assumptions." "It would be a big
mistake of the US if they tried to target Afghanistan for the crime. We are not
in anyway involved and we have cleared our position in this regard." "Osama has not been
allowed to play with international law and order. We have not left him to carry
such terrorist attacks. We recommend an investigation into the issue." -- Indo-Asian News
Service
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