Laden tape an attempt to divert attention from Cairo speech:US

The White House on Thursday termed the latest tape of al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden as an attempt to divert people's attention from the historic Cairo speech of the US president Barack Obama, through which he would address the Muslim world.

"I don't think it is surprising that Al Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world," the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, told correspondents in Cairo.

We have seen news reports of the message but not had an opportunity to review it in its entirety and I think the reports we have seen are consistent with messages that we have seen in the past from Al Qaeda, threatening the US and other countries that are involved in counter-terrorism efforts, Gibbs said.
 
At the State Department, the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Philip J Crowley, said bin Laden's message is on expected lines.

"Everyone on earth, Muslim or not, understands that bin Laden is entirely invested in promoting a clash of civilizations, one that the (US) president made clear in Turkey, does not exist," Crowley said.

"I think there will be a contrast between bin Laden's vision of intolerance and perpetual conflict, and the president's message tomorrow offering a vision of a peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, and interconnected world for the 21st century," he said in response to a question.