Previously, the longest period without a message from the al-Qaeda leader was from December 2001 to November 2002. He issued numerous tapes in 2003 and 2004, calling for Muslims to attack US interests and threatening attacks against the US.
Bin Laden appeared in a video released in October 2004, just ahead of US presidential elections, saying the US could avoid another Sept. 11 attack if it stops threatening the security of Muslims.
In an April 15, 2004, audiotape, he vowed revenge against the US for Israel's assassination of Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin -- and at the same time offered a truce to European countries.
Al-Zawahri, the al-Qaeda No. 2, has since December 2004 issued a number of video and audio tapes, including one claiming responsibility for the July London subway bombings.
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