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CAIRO - Osama bin Laden demanded that France withdrew its troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the release of French hostages held by affiliates of Al Qaeda, according to a message posted on an Arab news channel audio Friday.
"The release of hostages from the hands of your brothers depends on the output of your troops from Afghanistan, bin Laden said in the message broadcast by Al Jazeera.
Extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda at least seven French hostages, including five in the Sahara and two in Afghanistan.
France has about 3,850 soldiers in Afghanistan under the NATO mission fighting the Taliban. French troops are deployed in the districts of Kapisa and Surobi north and east of Kabul, the Afghan capital.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country remains tireless in his role to help stabilize Afghanistan.
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bernard Valero said the spokesman for bin Laden message has been verified. "We are determined to continue our efforts for the Afghan people, our allies," said Valero.
Bin Laden reminded the French people for refusing to Sarkozy in November to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan and al-Qaeda to negotiate the hostages.
"Your president is a rejection over a mercenary to America and is a green light for the hostages. ... His position cost you a high price on the different aspects within or outside France for murder, says it.
The leader of al-Qaeda wondered why the French consider the resistance against Nazi German forces occupied their country in World War II to be heroic, while fighting against French and foreign troops in Afghanistan is marked terrorism.
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"Why do you double standard?" he said.
Bin Laden also challenged whether the state of the economy of France would allow wage an effective fight against Al Qaeda.
"The size of your debt and the weakness of your budget does not allow you to open a new front," he said.
Al Qaeda has often led audio messages to Al-Jazeera for broadcast.
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