Bin Laden Probably Made Reward Offer
WASHINGTON — The CIA said Friday that a recording posted on the Internet was “likely” the voice of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden offering gold as a reward to anyone who kills top U.S. and U.N. officials.
The recording posted on an Islamist website Thursday offered gold for killing the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer III; United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan; Bremer’s deputy; and U.N. envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi.
The threat prompted Interpol to call on police and security agencies around the world to take “extraordinary measures” to ensure the safety of U.N. staff, diplomatic personnel and facilities.
The recording called for jihad against the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and whoever cooperates with them.
A European security source said the reward was a surprising new element because the jihadist mind-set is usually geared to being rewarded in paradise.
The offer of a financial reward was similar to the approach the United States has taken by offering $25 million for information that would help capture Bin Laden. U.S. forces have been searching for the terrorist leader in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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