Jerusalem Post

(11:55) Hamas: We support bin-Laden and Islam

Hamas fully supports Osama bin-Laden and statements he made in a prerecorded videotape shown last night, official senior Hamas member Abdel Aziz Rantisi said in an Arabic language interview.

Bin-Laden was shown on international television wearing fatigues and with a rifle at his side, telling America that it will never "dream of security" until its armies leave holy Arab lands."

Bin-Laden, who orchestrated the Sept. 11 terror attacks, also heaped praise on those responsible for the World Trade Center and Pentagon strikes. However, he did not claim responsibility for the attacks that killed more than 6,000 people.

"I swear by God ... neither America nor the people who live in it will dream of security before we live it in Palestine, and not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Mohammed, peace by upon him," bin-Laden said in Sunday's video.

Rantisi said Hamas would ward off any attack against Islam or against sites holy to Islam, the Itim news agency reports.

"Actually, the Americans are the real terrorists and support terror worldwide, as expressed in their support of Israeli terror" Rantisi said.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001