Bin Laden Threatens Hostages

French captives will die unless troops leave Afghanistan
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 21, 2011 11:27 AM CST
Bin Laden Threatens Hostages
This image made from video broadcast on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001, shows Osama bin Laden at an undisclosed location.   (AP Photo/Al-Jazeera, File)

Osama bin Laden has released a new audiotape imploring France to withdraw its troops from Muslim lands in exchange for the release of French nationals held hostage in Niger. “President Nicolas Sarkozy’s refusal to remove his forces from Afghanistan is nothing but a green light for killing the French hostages,” the al-Qaeda leader said in a tape broadcast today on Al Jazeera.

It’s the second tape bin Laden has sent referring to the hostages, who were kidnapped in September by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The group kidnapped seven foreigners, including five Frenchmen. Two were killed in a botched rescue attempt last week. "We repeat the same message to you," said bin Laden: "The release of your prisoners in the hands of our brothers is linked to the withdrawal of your soldiers from our country." (More Osama bin Laden stories.)

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