Pope Rejects Bin Laden Claim

March 21, 2008

Author: Ian Fisher

Source: The Detroit News/The New York Times

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/NATION/803210425/1041/LIFESTYLE04

The Vatican on Thursday rejected an audiotaped accusation from Osama bin Laden that Pope Benedict XVI was leading a "new crusade" against Muslims, but Italian security officials were concerned about the threats included in bin Laden's new message.

"These accusations are absolutely unfounded," the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the pope's chief spokesman, said in a telephone interview. "There is nothing new in this, and it doesn't have any particular significance for us."