Abu Dhabi, UAE
A speaker claiming to be the terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden warned in an audiotape released Friday that the release of two French journalists kidnapped by militants depends France's military role in Afghanistan.
"We repeat the same message to you, the speaker said in an audiotape broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite news channel." Release your prisoners from the hands of our brothers depends on the withdrawal of your forces from our country. "
Microphone, which is believed to be the leader of al-Qaeda of bin Laden warned the French government and the union, the United States expensive.
"The rejection of President (Nicolas) Sarkozy, to leave Afghanistan is the result of its submission to the United States and this (firing) is considered the green light to kill their prisoners without delay," he said.
He goes on to say that "we do not do that at the time that suits him (Sarkozy) and this position will pay dearly for all the fronts in France and abroad."
But France said it would not prevent its strategy in Afghanistan.
"We are determined to keep our allies in Afghanistan for the Afghan people," said the spokesman of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Valero.
Taliban militants captured journalists - and Stéphane Hervé Ghesquière Taponnier France 3 Television - in December 2009 and threatened to kill her if their demands were not met, including the release of some prisoners held by France.
France has 3,750 soldiers in Afghanistan after NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
North African wing of Al-Qaeda has the obligation to withdraw the same on the safety of five French citizens kidnapped in Niger.