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Video shows Osama with 9/11 plotters

Atul Aneja

Timed for maximum psychological impact

DUBAI: The Qatar-based Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera has aired a fresh video that shows Osama bin Laden and his key followers apparently planning the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.

The footage was shown on Thursday night, which Al Jazeera claimed was only a small part of a longer recording.

Analysts point out that the release has been timed for maximum psychological impact as it precedes the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by four days.

In the video, the Al-Qaeda chief, wearing a white turban and white and brown robes, is shown walking on a rocky and barren area. The area has not been identified, and he is seen in the company of several dozen men.

Besides, Al Jazeera showed images of Hamza al-Ghamdi and Wael al-Shehri, who were part of the 19 militants who died during the attacks. The footage showed the last wills and testaments of the two.

The video also showed Mohammed Atef, Osama's former field commander. He was killed during the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan after September 11. Besides, Al Jazeera claimed that the recording had the image of Ramzi bin al-Shaiba, the suspected coordinator of the September 11 attacks.

He is shown as telling his men to, "Prepare for the invasion, America is going to invade Afghanistan."

The video, which lasted for about an hour, was produced by As-Sahab, which is known as the Al-Qaeda's media wing. Islamist militant websites said the entire recording would soon be posted on the Internet.

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