Bin-Laden claims responsibility for Christmas Day bombing

Al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden issued a new audio message claimingresponsibility for the Christmas day airline bombing attempt in Detroitand vowed further attacks.

In a short recording carried by the Al-Jazeera Arabic newschannel on Sunday, bin Laden addressed US President Barack Obama sayingthe attack was a message like that of September 11 and more attacksagainst the US would be forthcoming.

"The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroicwarrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previousmessages sent by the heroes of the September 11," he said.

"America will never dream of security unless we will have it inreality in Palestine," he added. "God willing, our raids on you willcontinue as long as your support to the Israelis will continue."

On Christmas Day, Nigerian national Abdulmutallab attempted toblow up the Northwest Airlines flight he was sitting on as itapproached Detroit Metro Airport. But the bomb he was hiding in hisunderwear failed to explode.

He told federal agents shortly afterward that he had been trained and instructed in the plot by al-Qaida operatives in Yemen.

There was no way to confirm the voice was actually that of Bin Laden, but it resembled previous recordings attributed to him.

In the past year, Bin Laden's messages have concentrated heavilyon the plight of the Palestinians in attempt to rally support acrossthe region.

Many analysts believe that bin Laden is worried about Obama'spopularity across the Middle East with his promises to withdraw fromIraq and personal background, so the al-Qaida leader is focusing on theclose US-Israeli relationship.

The situation of the Palestinians, especially in the blockadedGaza Strip where 1,400 died during Operation Cast Lead, angered many inthe Arab world.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Andy David, dismissed the latestal-Qaida message and its attempt to link Israel with attacks on the US

"This is nothing new, he has said this before. Terroristsalways look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds," David said.

The last public message from bin Laden appears to have been onSeptember 26, when he demanded that European countries pull theirtroops out of Afghanistan. The order came in an audiotape that alsowarned of "retaliation" against nations that are allied with the UnitedStates in fighting the war.