LONDON, Dec 26: Osama bin Laden said on a video broadcast by Al Jazeera satellite television on Wednesday that the Sept 11 suicide attacks were intended to stop US support for Israel.

“Our terrorism against the United States is worthy of praise to deter the oppressor so that America stop its support for Israel, which is killing our children,” Osama said.

He added that the tape was being issued to mark about three months since the attacks on New York and Washington and two months after the United States began its bombing of Afghan targets.

The remarks indicated the tape was recorded in early to mid December.

Looking tired but calm, Osama was dressed in a clean, camouflage-patterned combat jacket. He sat against a cloth or canvas screen, his Russian-designed submachinegun propped beside him.

There was no indication where he was when he recorded the video.—Reuters