Bin Laden wants long war against infidels

By Inal Ersan

DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden called for a long war against "infidels and their agents" and warned Muslims that alliances with Christians and Jews would turn them into apostates.

Bin Laden's remarks came in a recording, parts of which had been aired by Al Jazeera television Wednesday, a day before U.S. President Barack Obama said he sought a "new beginning" between the United States and the Muslim world in a speech.

"We either live under the light of Islam or we die with dignity ... brace yourselves for a long war against the world's infidels and their agents," bin Laden said in the recording posted on an Islamist website Thursday.

Bin Laden said Obama had planted "seeds of hatred" among Muslims. His deputy Ayman al-Zawahri called the U.S. president a criminal in another recording Tuesday and warned Muslims against falling for his polished words.

The comments appeared to be a drive by al Qaeda to pre-empt Obama's speech to the Muslim world.

"If a Muslim became an ally of the infidels and backed them against Muslims his faith would be annulled and he would become an apostate infidel," said bin Laden.

"Do not take Jews and Christians as allies ...," said the Saudi-born militant, adding fighting Muslim Pakistani soldiers was not sacrilegious as they were implementing U.S. policies.

"This is the case of the Pakistani army as it is with America in the same dungeon against Islam. The true folk of Islam should fight them."