The three-month offer of a terrorism truce - made in April purportedly by Osama bin Laden - expired on Thursday, little noticed in European countries that had been invited to accept it. At the time the taped message was broadcast on Islamic satellite networks April 15, CIA officials said that technical analysis of the recording indicated it was probably authentic. "I announce a truce with the European countries that do not attack Muslim countries," said the audiotape by a man identifying himself as bin Laden. "The door to a truce is open for three months," but the time frame could be extended. "The truce will begin when the last soldier leaves our countries," the speaker said without elaborating. An apparent attempt to drive a wedge between Europe and America, it was quickly spurned by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.
| Zappie accepted it in fact if not in word. |
As the deadline passed Thursday in European capitals, where security forces already were on stepped-up alert, there was no apparent change in the resolve to battle terrorism. In Poland, which has held an important military command role in the U.S-led coalition force in Iraq, Foreign Ministry spokesman Boguslaw Majewski said, "Security measures are being implemented on a constant basis. There is no need for an immediate anti-threat measure." ... "Every threat is being taken seriously, but this is one of many threats that has been made toward Poland and Europe in the last weeks and months," Majewski said.
In Italy, which has the third-largest military contingent among postwar forces in Iraq, there was no mention of the passing deadline on state TV. The main evening news' report on terrorism focused on terrorism alarms in the United States and the concerns of some that they may play into the election campaign of U.S. President George W. Bush. Earlier in Rome, Italy and Russia issued a joint statement reasserting "condemnation without ambiguity of all forms and acts of terrorism, regardless of motives, places and circumstances." The statement, issued after talks in the Italian capital between the countries' foreign ministers, made no mention of the deadline. At the time the taped offer surfaced, Italy called the idea of negotiations "unthinkable." |