Bin Laden blames French 'injustice' for abductions

"How is it right for you to occupy our countries and kill our women and children and expect to live in peace and security?" a speaker who sounded like bin Laden said in the message directed to the French people.

"The equation is clear: you are killed as you kill and abducted as you abduct, and as you damage our security we damage your security."

Five French nationals and two Africans were kidnapped in Niger in September, in an operation claimed by al Qaeda's north African wing (AQIM).

The 16 September kidnapping was an escalation in the hostilities between the militant group and France. AQIM executed 78-year-old French hostage Michel Germaneau in July after French commandos took part in a failed raid to free him.

"The way to preserve your security is to end all aspects of your injustices against our Muslim nation, the most important of which is for you to withdraw from Bush's loathed war in Afganistan," bin Laden said.

The al Qaeda leader, believed to be hiding in the mountainous border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, also opposed the French ban of wearing full veils in public

France, where the five-million-strong Muslim community is Europe's largest, became the first country to introduce a ban on the veil after the Constitutional Council, the country's highest constitutional authority, approved it earlier this month.

 The Netherlands later announced plans to ban the burqa.

The six men and one Frenchwoman, employees of French firms Areva and Vinci, were kidnapped in Niger before being taken to Mali.