A new tape said to be recorded by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden appeared on the Arab TV channel Al Jazeera. The voice attributed to the No.1 terrorist called on Iraqi Muslims to boycott the upcoming elections for a constitutional assembly, scheduled for Jan. 30.

"In the balance of Islam, this constitution is infidel and therefore everyone who participates in this election will be considered infidels," says the voice on tape.

The person described as Bin Laden expressed support for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a militant behind the explosions in the US consulate. The voice on the tape described Mr. Zarqawi as the "emir," or representative of Al Qaeda in Iraq and urged the Muslims to listen to him.

The person talking on the tape recalled the October statement in which Zarqawi declared allegiance to Mr. bin Laden and called this pronouncement "a great step on the path of unifying all the mujahedeen in establishing the state of righteousness and ending the state of injustice."

US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the identity of the speaker had not been confirmed, but the tape was "a message from terrorists" and an attempt "by murderers to propagate their evil trade."