Following is an excerpt from a new tape by Osama Bin Laden, directed at the French people. The excerpt was aired by Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) on January 21, 2011:

Osama Bin Laden: My message to you, today and in the past, is one and the same: The release of your prisoners held by our brothers is dependent upon the withdrawal of your troops from our countries. If you consider this a political dictate and "despicable terrorism," while you consider the expulsion of Hitler's forces from your lands an act of heroism and "blessed terrorism," then you are applying a double standard. Oh, the French people, your President's refusal to withdraw from Afghanistan stems from his subordination to the US. By this refusal, [Sarkozy] has given the go-ahead for the immediate killing of your prisoners, so he could rid himself of the prisoners' case and its consequences. Nevertheless, we will not do it at the time determined by him. This position of his will cost both him and you dearly on several fronts, in France as well as abroad. You know full well that, given the extent of your debts and the weakness of your economy, you can do without opening new fronts.