Osama Bin Laden, 07 Sep 2007

Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has warned the European Union that there will be a strong reaction against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published in European newspapers.

In an audio recording posted to an al-Qaida-affiliated Web site late Wednesday, a voice said to be bin-Laden's described the publishing of the cartoons as part of a new crusade against Islam that involved Pope Benedict - head of the Catholic Church.

Satirical cartoons featuring Islam's Prophet Mohammed were published in Danish newspapers in 2006, sparking mass riots in Islamic nations worldwide.

Bin-Laden's latest recorded statement, entitled "The response will be what you see, not what you hear" comes on the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The message is bin Laden's first public statement since late last year.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.