US Secretary of State Colin Powell has confirmed that the voice on a cassette broadcast by an Arabic television station was that of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

"According to the information I have, it is the voice of bin Laden," Powell said in an interview to Polish Television.

Powell brushed off a truce offer in the tape to European countries that refrained from attacks on Muslims.

"We cannot give in to these people like bin Laden who spend their money on killing other innocent people. We have to fight them," he said.

The US secretary of state said there is no question of pulling out troops from Iraq. "It would be irresponsible to leave Iraq at this time," he added.

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