May 2, 2011
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Selected quotes attributed to Osama bin Laden, whose death was announced by US President Barack Obama on Sunday.
"America has been hit by Allah at its most vulnerable point, destroying, thank God, its most prestigious buildings."
-- October 7, 2001, after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
"Acquiring weapons for the defense of Muslims is a religious duty... If I seek to acquire these weapons, I am carrying out a duty."
-- December 1998, when asked by an interviewer for Time magazine whether he had acquired chemical or nuclear weapons.
"The war is between us and the Jews. Any country that steps into the same trench as the Jews has only itself to blame."
-- May 2002, from a video released to several news organisations.
"Free men do not forfeit their security, contrary to Bush's claim that we hate freedom. If so, then let him explain to us why we don't strike Sweden, for example.
-- October 2004, in a videotape broadcast on Arabic TV channel Al-Jazeera, referring to then US president George W. Bush.
"Those who want to solve our problems at the UN are hypocrites... Those who claim to be Arab leaders and whose countries are UN members are infidels."
-- November 2001, from a videotape obtained by Al-Jazeera.
"We stress the importance of martyrdom operations against the enemy, these attacks that have scared Americans and Israelis like never before."
-- February 2003, from an audiotape obtained by Al-Jazeera.
"We reserve the right to retaliate... against all countries that take part in this unjust war, namely Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy."
-- October 2003, from another audiotape obtained by Al-Jazeera, referring to the war in Iraq.
"I present a reconciliation initiative... whose essence is our commitment to stop operations against all (European) countries if they promise not to be aggressive towards Muslims or interfere in their affairs."
-- April 2004, from an audio message obtained by the Al-Arabiya TV channel.
"Their rejection of Hamas after it had won the election... confirms that there is a Crusader-Zionist war against Muslims."
-- April 2006, from an audiotape obtained by Al-Jazeera, referring to the reactions of Israel and Western states after Palestinian elections.
"These operations are being prepared and you will see them in your heartland when they are ready."
-- January 2006, from an audio message threatening new attacks on the United States, obtained by Al-Jazeera.
"Jihad will continue even if I am not around."
-- Late September 2001, in an interview with a Pakistani newspaper.
