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Muslim groups skeptical about `smoking gun` bin Laden video
Militant Muslim groups in Asia reacted skeptically on Friday to a videotape released by Washington appearing to show Osama bin Laden rejoicing over the September 11 attacks in the United States.
Militant Muslim groups in Asia reacted skeptically on Friday to a videotape released by Washington appearing to show Osama bin Laden rejoicing over the September 11 attacks in the United States.
US allies in the region lined up behind Washington's description of the grainy video as a smoking gun proving the Saudi-born extremist plotted the terror attacks that killed more than 3,000 people.
But militants in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, questioned the veracity of the often jerky, muffled amateur videotape showing bin Laden discussing the attacks in several meetings with associates.
“We do not believe the video is authentic because, first of all, the images are not clear,” Wirawan Adnan, a spokesman and lawyer for the Laskar jihad militia in Indonesia, said.
US allies in the region lined up behind Washington's description of the grainy video as a smoking gun proving the Saudi-born extremist plotted the terror attacks that killed more than 3,000 people.
But militants in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, questioned the veracity of the often jerky, muffled amateur videotape showing bin Laden discussing the attacks in several meetings with associates.
“We do not believe the video is authentic because, first of all, the images are not clear,” Wirawan Adnan, a spokesman and lawyer for the Laskar jihad militia in Indonesia, said.
“Secondly, we question whether Osama would allow any tape recordings to be made of himself discussing the attack,” he said. “It is very strange for someone like Osama to let himself be filmed in that situation.”
Bureau Report