ALSO WELL SAID

Iraq has told Osama bin Laden to stay out of its affairs after the al-Qaeda leader threatened retaliation for the US occupation and hailed the "heroes" who have attacked American forces.

"We don't want bin Laden to use Iraq to settle old scores with the Americans," Governing Council member Muwaffak Rubai told AFP.

His remarks came in response to a message, purported to be from bin Laden, encouraging further attacks on US forces in Iraq, where the Americans say al-Qaeda members are involved in strikes on coalition troops.

"We ask him not to interfere in Iraqi affairs and leave us in peace," Mr Rubai said after Al-Jazeera television aired the audiotape yesterday.