Weakening the infidels and warding off their evil... can only be effected through a unified approach

Osama bin Laden

You are aware that at these difficult days, God has bestowed on the Islamic nation the rise of an Islamic state that applies God's sharia and raises the banner of monotheism, praise be to God; namely, the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan led by the prince of the faithful Molla Mohammed Omar, may God protect him.

It is your duty to call on the people to adhere to this emirate, to support it with souls and resources, and to back it in resisting the overwhelming currents of the world's infidelism.

One leader

Weakening the infidels and warding off their evil, and upholding principles of monotheism can only be effected through a unified approach and by the Muslim's unanimous choice of one leader from among their men.

I take this opportunity to assert that it is God's desire that I should pledge allegiance to the prince of the faithful Molla Mohammad Omar, that I have indeed given him my word of allegiance.

I hope that my action will serve only God the Almighty.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.