Al-Qaeda supporters have voiced their anger at Al Jazeera Network for airing an audiotape of Osama bin Laden that made him appear “unusually” humble.
In the video, bin Laden admitted that al-Qaeda's organisation in Iraq had made mistakes and called for unity among Muslims.
In the taped message, bin Laden said: “Some of you have been lax in one duty, which is to unite your ranks.
“I advise myself, Muslims in general and brothers in al-Qaeda everywhere to avoid extremism in men and groups.”
The Jihadis appear to be angry because they think bin Laden's words were misrepresented by Al Jazeera, the channel that drew attention to his comments.
A stream of abusive and threatening messages was posted on the channel's message boards since the broadcast of his video.
"God fight al-Jazeera, collaborator with the Crusaders” read a message.
Another post read: “Al Jazeera directors have shamefully chosen to back the Crusaders' side and the defenders of hypocrites and the thugs and traitors of Iraq.”
One poster went as far as to threaten the channel: “Miserable fly in the rubbish, your day will come, vile one. As long as we live you won't be safe, Jazeera.”
Here are some excerpts from the Islamic Army in Iraq’s press release:
"Instead of adhering to their journalistic code of conduct and impartiality, as they describe their motto of being the channel of the opinion and the other opinion, Aljazeera directors have shamefully chosen to back the crusaders’ side, and the defenders of hypocrites and the thugs and the traitors of Iraq…
"Is there any journalistic honor left out there by joining the trend of the enemy of Islam to destroy its establishment, dispersing the ranks of mujahedeen in service of the crusaders purposes and their agents amongst the rules of the region."