Posted on 02/11/2003 11:03:06 AM PST by RCW2001
Tue February 11, 2003 01:36 PM ET
DUBAI (Reuters) - The al-Jazeera satellite television channel declined to confirm or deny reports on Tuesday that it had received a statement from Osama bin Laden pledging solidarity with Iraq.
Al-Jazeera's news gathering section said the channel "most probably" had no statement from the Saudi-born militant, but promised a firm reply later.
It was not immediately known whether the Qatar-based station had received a statement and was checking its authenticity or if it did not wish to air it for political reasons.
Earlier Tuesday, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the U.S. Senate Budget Committee that he had read a transcript "of what bin Laden, or who we believe to be bin Laden, will be saying on al-Jazeera during the course of the day."
Al-Jazeera has often received audio tapes and statements said to come from bin Laden, blamed for the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities. The United States has accused the Arab TV channel of being a mouthpiece for al-Qaeda propaganda.
Powell told lawmakers they would "be seeing this as the day unfolds, where once again he speaks to the people of Iraq and talks about their struggle and how he is in partnership with Iraq."
Powell cited this as a reason the United States could not rely on just containing Iraq with more weapons inspectors and a greater United Nations presence.
"This nexus between terrorists and states that are developing weapons of mass destruction can no longer be looked away from and ignored," he said.
Stephen Emerson exposes how US charities' funds have gone to support terrorism, and do we hear apologies or hue and cry against the perpetrators from Muslims? No.
President Bush speaks out about terrorism and Al Qaeda and takes measures to secure our Homeland, and we hear trumpeted charges of racism from Muslims claiming to have been affronted.
Americans and Brits are the ones being called Crusaders or anti-muslim racists. These double standards can't continue.
HF
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