A new audiotape purported to be from Osama bin Laden's top aide threatened that the United States and its allies will pay a "very high price" if any of the men held at Guantanamo Bay are harmed.
The tape was aired Sunday on the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya Arabic-language network, and the speaker was claimed to be Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri.
"The crusader America will pay a very high price for any harm that will affect any of the prisoners that they are holding," the voice said. "Those who are allies or helping America will pay the same price. Those who are handing over our brothers will pay the same price."
The United States is holding more than 600 alleged al Qaeda and Taliban fighters captured in Afghanistan at the base in Cuba.
The tape also told those "working or cooperating" with the United States that America is too weak to protect either itself or its allies. If the United States should prosecute those being held at Guantanamo, the speaker said, "it is sentencing its own people.
"We don't expect any justice from America," the voice added. "We are saying to America one thing: What you saw with your eyes so far are only the first tactics we are using. The real battle didn't start yet." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
