Following are translated excerpts from an purported audio tape by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden broadcast by Arab television stations:
This is a message to our neighbours north of the Mediterranean Sea with a proposal for a truce in response to the positive reactions which emerged there.
What happened on September 11th and March 11th are your goods returned to you so that you know security is a necessity for all and we do not accept that you monopolise it for yourselves, and knowledgeable nations will not accept that their leaders risk their security.
Be aware that if you describe us and our actions as terrorism then you should describe yourselves and your actions that way as well.
Our actions come in response to your actions of destroying and killing our people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. It is enough to witness the event that shocked the world, the killing of the elderly, wheelchair-bound Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, God have mercy on him, and we pledge to God to take revenge on America, God willing.
Under what grace are your victims innocent and ours dust and under which doctrine is your blood blood and our blood water? Reciprocation is just and he who starts is more unjust.
As for your leaders, and those who adopt their strategy, who insist on ignoring the real problem of the occupation of all of Palestine and who exaggerate in lying and denying our right to defend ourselves and to resist, they have no self-respect and belittle the faith and minds of people.
Their fallacy increases the shedding of your blood instead of stemming it. A review of the deaths in our land and your land reveal an important truth which is that there is injustice done to both us and you by your leaders who send your sons, despite your objections, to our land to kill and be killed.
It is in the interest of both parties not to give a chance to those who shed the blood of nations for their limited personal interest and obedience to the gang of the White House.
This war earns millions of dollars for big companies, whether those who manufacture weapons or those involved in reconstruction such as Halliburton and its sisters and daughters. And it becomes very clear who benefits from igniting the fires of this war and bloodshed, it is the traders of war, the bloodsuckers who run the policy of the world from behind a curtain.
President (George W.) Bush and leaders in his sphere, big media institutions, and the United Nations which entrenches the relationship between the veto masters and the General Assembly slaves, are all instruments in deceiving and abusing people.
All of them are a fatal danger to the world, and the Zionist lobby is their most dangerous and difficult member, and we insist, God willing, on continuing to fight them.
Based on this, and to deprive war traders of opportunities, and in response to the positive reactions reflected in recent events and public polls showing that most European people want a truce, I urge the faithful, especially scholars, clerics and traders to establish a permanent committee to build awareness among Europeans of the justice of our causes, foremost Palestine, and make use of the vast media resources.
I offer a truce to them (Europe) with a commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs, including (participating) in the American conspiracy against the wider Muslim world.
This first truce can be renewed upon expiry and the establishment of a new government agreed upon by both parties. And the announcement of the truce starts with the withdrawal of the last soldier from our land and the door is open for three months from the date of the announcement of this statement.
Whoever rejects this truce and wants war, we are its (war's) sons and whoever wants this truce, here we bring it.
Stop shedding our blood to save your own and the solution to this simple but complex equation is in your hands. You know matters will escalate the more you delay and then do not blame us but blame yourselves. Rational people do not risk their security, money and sons to appease the White House liar.
The killing of Russians came after their invasion of Afghanistan and Chechnya, and the killing of Europeans came after their invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The killing of Americans on the day of New York came after their support of the Jews in Palestine and their invasion of the Arabian peninsula and their killing in Somalia came after they invaded it in an operation to 'restore hope', so we returned them without hope, thank God.