Osama bin Laden urges Iraq fighters to unite

Osama bin Laden has called on insurgent groups in Iraq to avoid "extremism" against each other and unite around common interests, days after US generals declared that al-Qa’eda in Iraq was fatally wounded.

Osama bin Laden

It was not clear when

the tape was recorded

In the message addressed to "my brother fighters in Iraq", bin Laden called on the insurgent groups to fulfil their "duty" to unite "so that they become one, as God wants".

The tape appeared to be a response to moves by some Sunni tribes in Iraq to join US troops in fighting al-Qa’eda.

Other Sunni insurgent groups, while still attacking Americans, have formed coalitions opposed to al-Qa’eda.

The message came days after the Washington Post reported that American generals were considering declaring "mission accomplished" over al-Qa’eda in Iraq, after a significant downturn in terrorist activity since the "surge" of troops policy began earlier this year.