Bin Laden calls for jihad over Gaza
Updated on 14 January 2009
A new audio tape appears on Islamic websites carrying a call from al-Qaida's leader Osama Bin Laden for a "global jihad" over Israel's offensive in Gaza.
On the tape, which hasn't been independently verified, Bin Laden said America's influence had been weakened by the global economic crisis.
The White House said the tape showed the al-Qaida leader's isolation and was deliberately timed to coincide with the handover from President Bush to Barack Obama next week.
It comes as the United Nations is being asked to consider challenging the action under international humanitarian law and within hours of new rocket attacks on Northern Israel launched from Lebanon.
