PARIS, May 12: A video by an Al Qaeda member posted on the Internet on Thursday called upon Muslims to attack Denmark, Norway and France for publishing anti-Islam cartoons.

“Muslims avenge your prophet (PBUH).... We deeply desire that the small state of Denmark, Norway and France ... are struck hard and destroyed,” declared Libyan Mohammed Hassan, who escaped from US custody at Bagram airbase, Afghanistan, last July.

“Destroy their buildings, make their ground shake and transform them into a sea of blood,” said Hassan, dressed in military fatigues and a black turban, and holding an assault rifle.

Hassan, also known as Sheikh Abu Yahia al Libi, was one of four Arab suspects who broke out of the high-security detention facility at Bagram.

It was unclear when the 35-minute video, produced by Al Sahab, a media organisation close to Al Qaeda, was recorded.

The posting of the video comes three week’s after Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s call in a video to boycott products from the United States and European countries which supported Denmark over the publication of the cartoons.—AFP