Qatar-based Al Jazeera on Friday broadcast a new video tape in which Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden criticised US President George W Bush, accusing him of misleading Americans.

The television channel has been informing readers about the airing of the tape on its website for some time now. The tape comes four days before Americans vote to elect a new president. The contenders are incumbent Bush and Democrat John Kerry.

Bin Laden accused Bush of deceiving and 'misleading' the American people for four years after the September 11 attacks. According to a report on the Al Jazeera website, bin Laden said 'the reasons to repeat what happened' on 11 September 2001 remain.

• External Link: Osama bin Laden's message to Americans

Referring to the November 2 presidential election, he had a message for Americans. "Your security is not in the hands of (Democratic candidate John) Kerry or (President George W) Bush or Al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands," he said.

The September 11 attacks were in response to the injustices perpetuated by the United States. The US considers 'killing innocent people including children in Iraq' a legitimate act, invaded the country to replace 'an old agent with a new one' and plunder its oil wealth.

"Despite the fact that we are into the fourth year after September 11, President Bush is still misleading you and hiding the real reason from you, which means that the reasons to repeat what happened remain," bin Ladin told the Americans.