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Vatican City: The Vatican on Thursday rejected fresh accusations from Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden that the publication of cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammad was part of a "new crusade" involving Pope Benedict.
"These accusations are totally unfounded," the chief Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi told Reuters, in response to an audio recording by bin Laden which was posted on the Internet.
The Saudi-born militant leader had insisted that Europe would be punished for the cartoons and had accused the European Union and the Pope of being complicit in their publication and in the oppression of Muslims.
Lombardi said bin Laden's accusations were not surprising.
"It is natural to think that he would lump the Vatican and the Pope together with all his perceived enemies. But this is not correct," he said.
He recalled that the Pope himself had been quick to condemn the Danish cartoons and had launched a wider criticism of depictions of religious figures that offend members of different faiths.
He also pointed out that Pope Benedict, who had offended many Muslims in a 2006 speech, had recently set up a permanent official dialogue with Muslim leaders.
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