US lauds Egyptian, Arab League responses to Bin Laden's statement

The White House lauded Egypt and the Arab League's responses to the latest statement of Osama Bin Laden in which he criticized a number of Arab and Islamic countries for cooperating with the United Nation (UN).

In press statements late Monday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer described as tough several Arab countries' response to Bin Laden's statement.

"President George Bush had described the statement, as a mere media propaganda that reaffirms Bin Laden's isolation," said Fleischer.

Fleischer quoted Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher as having said that bin Laden was in a state of war with the whole world.

He also quoted Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, as having stressed that bin Laden was not speaking on behalf of Arabs or Muslims.

"In light of response of senior leaders in the Arab world, one can say that they see Bin Laden as not representing Arabs or Islam," the spokesman said.

Before the September 11 attacks, Taliban gained recognition of only three countries and the number declined to only one as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had severed ties with the ruling regime in Afghanistan in the wake of the attacks, he added.