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CNN Live At Daybreak

Editor Believes E-mail Is From bin Laden

Aired March 29, 2002 - 05:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Osama bin Laden is reportedly calling for jihad. That's according to an Arabic language newspaper which received what it believes is an authentic e-mail from the suspected terrorist mastermind.

Our national correspondent Mike Boettcher has details on the e- mail message.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the e-mail's intended audience, Arab leaders meeting in Beirut. If Osama bin Laden was the author, he had a clear message -- the Saudi peace plan adopted Thursday morning at the Arab summit betrays the Arab world. "In light of the bloody events that our nation is going through," the e-mail said, "everybody is required to take up jihad and grassroots leaderships have to move to end this roaring bloodshed and to expose the treacheries."

The message was sent to "Al-Quds," an Arabic language newspaper in London. Abdul Bari-Atwan is "Al-Quds'" editor.

ABDUL BARI ATWAN, EDITOR, AL-QUDS NEWSPAPER: It coincides with the Arab summit and he knew or his group knew actually now all the attention is concentrated on Beirut, where the Arab leaders are discussing the Saudi peace plan. So he would like justly to denounce this peace plan.

BOETTCHER: Atwan interviewed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1996. He believes the e-mail is authentic.

ATWAN: I think, you know, this is the same language he used. He supported the suicidal attacks against the Israelis. He wanted to distance himself from the Arab leaders, from the Saudi peace initiative. He considered it, you know, or considered Prince Abdullah, who presented it to the summit, as a traitor.

BOETTCHER: In Beirut, Arab leaders have not reacted to the alleged bin Laden message.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: No, they have not, and by the way, that Arab League summit wrapped up yesterday. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com