Italy Takes Al Qaeda`s Pope Threat Seriously

Bin Laden said offending cartoons of Islam`s Prophet Mohammad were part of a ˝new crusade˝ involving Pope Benedict.

Italian security officials are treating Osama bin Laden's new accusations against Pope Benedict as a serious threat, Ansa news agency said on Thursday, quoting a source at the interior ministry's anti-terrorism unit.

An interior ministry spokesman said security officials will meet on Friday to examine the Al Qaeda leader's taped message, in which he said offending cartoons of Islam's Prophet Mohammad were part of a "new crusade" involving Pope Benedict.