Howard rejects audio 'bin Laden' truce offer

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard today dismissed a truce offer, delivered in an audio tape attributed to Osama bin Laden, saying he did not take it seriously.

In the tape released last week, bin Laden warned al-Qaeda was preparing new attacks inside the United States.

Also in the tape - the first from bin Laden since 2004 - the al Qaeda leader said he was willing to "respond" to US public opinion in favour of withdrawing troops from Iraq.

The voice on the tape, aired on Arab television station Al Jazeera, did not specify conditions for the truce, but indicated that it was linked to US troops leaving Iraq.

When Mr Howard was asked by reporters in Canberra today whether he took the truce offer seriously, he replied: "No I don't".

In the US, the offer was quickly rejected by the Bush administration, with Vice President Dick Cheney declaring he was not willing to negotiate with terrorists.

- AAP