Doha: Osama bin Laden, head of the al-Qaida terror network, has issued a new threat to strike US economic interests, the Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera reported on October 6 night.

The threat came in a two-minute broadcast recording, which the Qatar-based television said was the voice of bin Laden, the Islamic militant wanted for last year's September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

He threatened to "strike US economic interests" if the United States does not halt attacks on Arab and Muslim countries.

The broadcast came on the eve of the first anniversary of the start of a US military campaign against al-Qaida in Afghanistan and while the fate of bin Laden remains shrouded in mystery.

The following is the text of a recording, broadcast by Al-Jazeera television, in which the Arab satellite station says Osama bin Laden threatens to strike US economic interests:

"Message to the US people:

Greetings to those who follow the just path. I advise you in all sincerity and call upon you to follow Islam, which stands up for justice and opposes injustice and crime.

I also call upon you to seize the messages of the conquests of New York and Washington, which was the response to a part of your past crimes.

However, the criminal gang in the White House, those agents of the Jews, are preparing to attack the Muslim world and carve it up, without you dissuading them, meaning that you have not learnt anything.

I tell you, as God is my witness, that if America does not cease or reduce the scope of this tension, we will respond in kind, God willing.

The youth of Islam are preparing something to strike fear in your hearts and will target the vital sectors of your economy until you renounce your injustice and hostility.

We pray for God to help you in this."

Agencies