'Voices From Afghanistan' Exhibit Profiled In 'The Washington Post'

"The Post's" Style section highlights the exhibit at the Library of Congress, which showcases some of the thousands of handwritten scrolls and letters sent in by listeners to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. More

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Bin Laden Issues New Tape

June 30, 2006

The tape is reportedly posted on an Islamist website (file photo)

June 30, 2006 -- Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is reported to have issued a new audio tape.

The voice on the 20-minute recording pays tribute to Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq who was killed in a U.S. air strike earler this month.

"The lion of jihad, Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, was killed in an American attack," the voice says. "We are for Allah and to him we shall return. We hope Allah will honor him and make him a martyr."

The authenticity of the tape, which was posted on an Islamist website today, could not be immediately verified.

(Reuters, AP)

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Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi

Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi(undated AFP file photo)

COMMITTED TO TERROR: Jordan-born Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi has been among the most visible and ruthless leaders of Iraq's post-Saddam Hussein insurgency. In a tape released earlier this month, al-Zaqawi called on Iraqi Sunnis to fight against Shi'a and labeled Shi'ite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani an "atheist."
Insurgents loyal to Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization have regained control over much of Al-Anbar Governorate, and are posing a major challenge to U.S. and Iraqi forces. A local security force established by tribesmen under an agreement with the U.S. military has all but ceased operating, after nearly a dozen tribal leaders were assassinated in revenge attacks by insurgents loyal to al-Zarqawi's Mujahedin Shura Council since January. Local tribal leaders now say they are afraid to be seen associating with U.S. forces, lest they be targeted by insurgents....(more)