Bangkok, Oct 19: US President George W Bush said today a new audiotape purportedly by al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden reinforces his message to Asia-Pacific nations that "the war on terror goes on."
"It's something I'll discuss with other leaders here at Apec. This is still a dangerous world," said Bush, who was here for a state visit as well as the October 20-21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.

"I think that the bin Laden tape should say to everybody, the war on terror goes on; that there's still a danger for free nations and that free nations need to work together more than ever to share intelligence, cut off money, and bring these potential killers, or killers to justice," he said. On the recording, which was broadcast by the al-Jazeera satellite television station, a voice supposedly belonging to bin Laden threatens the United States with suicide bombers to avenge its occupation of Iraq.

"We will go on fighting you and we will carry on martyrdom (suicide) operations in and outside the United States until you stop being unjust," warned the audiotaped "message to the American people".

"We reserve the right to retaliate at the proper time and place against all countries that take part in this unjust war (against Iraq), namely Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy," announced the taped voice, said to be that of the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 suicide hijackings in New York and Washington. Bureau Report