TERRORISM: SUDAN AND HAMAS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM BIN LADEN MESSSAGE

Doha, 24 April (AKI) - The Sudanese government and Hamas have distanced themselves from a call attributed to Osama bin Laden for Islamic holy war in which the leader of al-Qaeda condemns the West for its actions in both countries. US intelligence believes the audio tape aired by Arab satellite TV channel al-Jazeera on Sunday is genuine, making it bin Laden's first message since January. In the tape, a speaker identified as the leader of al-Qaeda said the decision of Western governments to halt aid to the Hamas-led government and impose other sanctions proved the West was in a "crusader war" with Islam.

He called for Islamist militants to prepare for a "long war against the Crusader plunderers in western Sudan." "Our goal is not defending the Khartoum government but to defend Islam, its land and its people."

The Sudanese foreign ministry distanced the government from the appeal. "Sudan has nothing to do with such statements," spokesman Jamal Mohammed Ibrahim said. "We are keen on reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis in Darfur."

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhuri was also quick to distance his organisation from the statements saying that the Palestinian cabinet was "interested in good relations with the West." The audiotape's speaker referred to the decision by Western powers to cut funding to the Palestinian cabinet since Hamas' landslide victory in general elections in January as part of an anti-Islamic campaign.

Bin Laden was based in Sudan until he was expelled in 1996 because of US pressure on Khartoum. Since leaving Sudan, bin Laden is believed to have been hiding in Afghanistan or in the Pakistani mountains on the border.