Neither statement explicitly said Osama bin Laden's network was behind the bombings carried out by Khan, two other British Muslims of Pakistani origin and a Jamaican-born Briton.

It was not clear how long before Khan's death the tape had been made, or where. The single videotape appeared to be a compilation of different pieces of footage. Zawahri and Khan did not appear together on the tape.

Zawahri warned there would be more attacks like the London bombings on Western countries that took part in the U.S.-led wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The blessed London raid was a slap in the face of the arrogant, crusader British rulers," Zawahri said in the recording which appeared very similar to a video aired by Al Jazeera on Aug 4.

"We have repeated again and again, and here we are warning one more time -- all those who took part in the aggression on Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine, we will respond in kind."

"GLORIOUS" ATTACK

The Arabic television channel showed Khan wearing a turban, talking directly to the camera, seemingly relaxed and speaking in the heavy accent common to people from Yorkshire in northern England, where he had lived.

Khan called bin Laden, Zawahri, and al Qaeda in Iraq leader Musab al-Zarqawi "today's heroes" and hailed "martyrs" who had given their lives in defence of Islam.

"Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood," he said. "I and thousands like me are forsaking everything for what we believe."

Khan and another of the bombers Shehzad Tanweer, travelled to Pakistan between November and February, where madrasas, or religious schools have been under scrutiny after some were accused of breeding extremism.

Pakistani security forces have also been searching for members of al Qaeda in remote areas of the country.

Neither British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office nor the Foreign Office commented on the tape.

But David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary (interior minister) of the main opposition Conservative Party, said in a statement: "Nothing can justify the murder of innocent people. People across Britain will be sickened by this video."

London's police chief Ian Blair said the bombings bore all the hallmarks of an al Qaeda operation as it was a multiple coordinated attack on a city's transport system. But security sources have told Reuters that they had not found any evidence to back up claims an al Qaeda mastermind was behind the attack and said they were not looking for a "Mr Big".

Detectives have said they believe Khan, 30 and the oldest of the July 7 suicide bombers, was the leader of the group.

"GLORIOUS RAID"

An Al Jazeera official would not say when the channel received the tape but said it was different than the Aug 4 video, in which Zawahri made similar warnings to the West. Thursday's tape bore English subtitles and showed Zawahri wearing a turban with an automatic rifle propped up behind him.

"This glorious raid, like the others before it in New York, Washington and Madrid, has moved our battle right to the enemy's doorstep," said Zawahri, referring to the September 11, 2001. attacks in the United States and last year's bombing on Madrid trains which were blamed on al Qaeda. "And as they have let rivers of blood run in our countries, we will, God willing, erupt volcanoes of anger in their countries," he said. "People of the crusader alliance, behold the disasters the policies of (U.S. President George W.) Bush and Blair will bring upon you," he added.

In the August 4 tape, Zawahri repeated previous threats against the United States, saying it and other Western nations would not live in peace until they withdraw their troops from Iraq and other Muslim countries.

reuters.co.uk

Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's second-in-command, speaks in a video aired by al-Jazeera in which he warned Britons that Tony Blair's policies will bring more destruction to London. - story

Intelligence experts urge caution over suicide bomber's video

By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor (Filed: 03/09/2005)

Intelligence experts last night cautioned against assumptions that a video message left by one of the London suicide bombers was conclusive proof that the outrage was planned by al-Qa'eda's top command. They still believe Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, and three other British Muslims who killed themselves and 52 victims on July 7 may have been acting independently. Police and MI5 analysts were assessing the implications of the tape in which Khan, 30, who was born and brought up in Yorkshire, blamed Britain's involvement in the Iraq war for his actions. He described himself as "a soldier at war" and said there were others like him ready to carry out further attacks.

The video, broadcast on the Arab television channel al-Jazeera, provided a missing piece of the jigsaw that had baffled counter-terrorism specialists since the atrocity. Suicide bombers normally leave a message behind to justify what they have done and extract maximum propaganda value. But the emergence of the video almost two months after the attacks has raised as many questions as it answered. While the broadcast of an accompanying message from Ayman al-Zawahiri, a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden, appeared to show a direct connection with al-Qa'eda, security officials were not jumping to any conclusions.

Until Thursday, MI5 and the police had found no evidence of outside involvement in the bombings and they do not believe the video conclusively proves the operation was run directly by al-Qa'eda. One possibility being explored is that the tape was made in Britain and left with someone who ensured it reached al-Qa'eda leaders in Pakistan or Afghanistan, which would be one reason why it took so long to come out. Alternatively, it could have been made months ago when Khan visited Pakistan.

Irshad Hussain, who knew Khan because both lived in the same Dewsbury suburb, said: "It looks like an older video. If you look at his age when he blew himself up and you look at the video he looks much younger there."

Abdel Bari-Atwan, editor of Al Quds, a London-based Arabic newspaper, said the video demonstrated that al-Qa'eda had penetrated the Muslim extremist community. "When they show this tape with Ayman al-Zawahiri speaking on the same tape they would like to confirm that they are behind the London bombings and to say to those people who doubt this 'You are not telling the truth. We recruited them and we groomed them'."

However, it remains unclear whether the other bombers also left similar messages and, if so, where they are.

The Government has rejected any connection between the attacks and the Iraq war, though Kenneth Clarke, the Tory leadership contender, this week said Britain's foreign policy had made the country ''one of the targets for Islamic extremists''. Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Foreign Secretary and another leadership hopeful, said the "widespread belief" among some Muslims that the Government's foreign policy was directed against Muslims was wrong.

"I was against the war - I'm no supporter of the government on that objective, but I do absolve them completely of any anti-Muslim objectives and I think the government has to work a lot harder to explain its foreign policy."

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday said there was "no excuse, no justification for terrorism of any kind". He added: "Those who wrongly claim to speak in the name of Islam are mainly killing their fellow Muslims."

Inayat Bunglawala, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said it was "obscene" to suggest justice for the people of Iraq could be obtained by an act of injustice against the people of London. "Holding all British people responsible for the Iraq war is just plain wrong - this country was bitterly divided and many millions, perhaps the majority, clearly opposed the war."

However, Mr Bunglawala said Britain's foreign policy had caused anger among young Muslims and ''left a huge opening for radicals operating in Islamic communities across the country". - Telegraph

apparently

The video bears the Al Sahab logo meaning " The Clouds" which is a signature of Al-Qaeda videos

this was also on the 'azzam the american' video

An hour-long videotape apparently released by al-Sahab Enterprises, the public relations arm of al Qaeda was reportedly obtained by ABC News in Waziristan, Pakistan last weekend. The tape is narrated by a terrorist who identifies himself as Assam the American. Videotaped with his face concealed by a head dress, he spoke with an American accent and promised that the next attack will "dwarf 9/11." He further stated "The streets will run with blood," and "America will mourn in silence" because they will be unable to count the number of the dead. The speaker added that America has brought this on itself for electing George Bush who has made war on Islam by destroying the Taliban and making war on Al Qaeda. - North East Intell net

Why did the CIA not verify the tape's authenticity of Azzam the American, which containes a logo of "an al-Qaida production group", but "approved" Bin Laden's video 1 day later, which had the same logo?

by sheer coincidence

Al Sahab is a spectacular twin tower, 44-storey, high-rise, waterfront tower which directly overlooks the largest bay of water at Dubai Marina. From the level three Marina homes upwards, all residents have unparalleled views over the Arabian Gulf, Dubai Marina, world-class golf courses and the desert.

another co incidence is that the BinLaden construction company builds skyscrapers...