Egyptian offical- Bin Laden wages war against world

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Osama bin Laden is waging a war against the world and does not represent Arabs and Muslims, senior Arab officials said Sunday during a gathering of foreign ministers in the Syrian capital.

"I think there is a war between him and the world," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters before the meeting of Arab League foreign ministers.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa also reproached bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, saying he "does not speak for Arabs and Muslims."

Bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization have called on Muslims to wage holy war against the United States following the Oct. 7 launch of U.S. airstrikes against Afghan-istan, where the Taliban rulers have refused to hand over bin Laden.

The comments by Moussa and Maher followed Saturday's broadcast of bin Laden's latest televised statement, in which he denounced the United Nations and criticized Arab leaders as "infidels" who consider using the world body to negotiate for peace.