Dawn.com

Osama is seeking base in ME: Israel

AL QUDS, April 24: Osama Bin Laden is trying to establish an infrastructure among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon alleged on Tuesday.

A senior Palestinian security official denied the allegation, voiced after Israel arrested a Gaza lawyer it suspects of having links with Osama.

"This is not the first time that (Bin Laden) has been attempting to influence or to establish an infrastructure (in Palestinian areas)," Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin said.

"His fingerprints are really here. We'll do all in our efforts, and I think it's incumbent on the Palestinian Authority to do everything, that these fingerprints don't turn into a massive infrastructure of terrorist activity," Gissin said.

The Palestinian security official accused Israel of disseminating propaganda.

"As far as we know, Osama organization has no extensions in Palestinian territories," said the official.-Reuters

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001