Bin Laden criticizes the Saudi rulers

U.S. intelligence officials have concluded with what they call "high confidence" that an audiotape posted on an Islamist website contains the voice of terrorist mastermind &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/columnists/2002/03/11/26901.html ' target=_blank>Osama bin Laden.

Officials say the tape, which surfaced Thursday, is consistent in tone and message with previous ones.

The message, which runs more than one hour in length, criticizes the Saudi monarchy for unrest in the country, and mocks its attempts at reform, saying change will only come when the monarchy is removed, says Voice of America.

The speaker in the recording blessed the Saudi &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/usa/2002/04/19/27772.html ' target=_blank>Al Qaeda militants who stormed the US consulate in Jeddah, killing five non-American staff in the first attack on a Western mission in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/usa/2002/08/09/34121.html ' target=_blank>Saudi Arabia.