Osama threatens France for troops in Afghan

Paris : Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has threatened the French government with killings of its nationals unless it withdrew support from the U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.

Also justifying the kidnappings of five French citizens last month, the purported bin Laden said the abductions were the result of ?French injustices against Muslims? and warning they will continue.

“The equation is very clear and simple: as you kill, you will be killed; as you take others hostages, you will be taken hostages; as you waste our security we will waste you waste your security,” he was quoted as saying.

In the audio tape released to the news network, the 9/11-mastermind asked the French government, the fourth-largest contributor to the international military mission in Afghanistan, to withdrew its about 3,750 troops from the region.

Bin Laden also went on to speak against the ban on wearing the full-face veils by Muslim women which is scheduled to come into effect in the spring.

?If you unjustly thought that it is your right to prevent free Muslim women from wearing the face veil, is it not our right to expel your invading men and cut their necks?? the recording said.

While the voice has not yet been verified to belong to the bin Laden, according to reports, French authorities are said to be taking the threat very seriously and the country continues to be on the second-highest terror alert level.