Osama issues new threat to Americans

Cairo: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has threatened to kill any captured Americans if the US executes the alleged mastermind of September 11 terror attacks.

In a new audio message aired on Al-Jazeera TV on Thursday, bin Laden said if the US executes Khalid Sheik Mohammed that it would mean a "death sentence" for Americans captured by al-Qaeda.

Mohammed is currently in US custody. The Obama administration is still debating where to hold his trial.