Al-Qaida statement praises bin Laden, promises more 'evil'

White House press secretary Jay Carney said U.S. officials are aware of the statement and the threat. "What it does obviously is acknowledge the obvious, which is that Osama bin Laden was killed," said Carney. "We're quite aware of the potential for (terrorist) activity and are highly vigilant on that matter for that reason."

Despite the new threats against the United States, the overall theme of the al-Qaida statement was that of continuity for the organization. Much of the 11-paragraph statement was dedicated to underlining that al-Qaidawould live on, depicting him as another in a line of "martyrs" from the group.

"Sheik Osama didn't build an organization to die when he dies," the statement read. "The university of faith, Quran and jihad from which bin Laden graduated will not close its doors," it added.

"The soldiers of Islam will continue in groups and united, plotting and planning without getting bored, tired, with determination, without giving up until striking a blow," the statement said.

It said bin Laden was killed "along an established path followed by the best of those who came before him and those who will come after him."

The acknowledgment by al-Qaida should remove doubt among all but the most die-hard conspiracy theorists that bin Laden is in fact dead.

The need to provide proof was behind some arguments that the U.S. should release a photo of the slain terror leader. President Barack Obama has chosen to withhold the photo.

Earlier Friday, hundreds of members of radical Islamic parties protested in several Pakistan cities against the U.S. raid. Many chanted "Osama is alive" and criticized the U.S. for violating the country's sovereignty.

In the statement, al-Qaida also called on Pakistanis to revolt against the country's leaders to "cleanse the shame." And it said that an audio message bin Laden recorded a week before his death would be issued soon.

The writers of the al-Qaida statement appeared unaware of the U.S. announcement that bin Laden's body had been buried at sea. The statement warned against mishandling or mistreating bin Laden's body and demanded that it be handed over to his family, saying "any harm (to the body) will open more doors of evil, and there will be no one to blame but yourselves."

There had been hope that bin Laden's death would cause the Afghan Taliban to rethink its ties with al-Qaida — a union the U.S. insists must end if the insurgents want to talk peace. The foundation of their relationship was believed to be rooted in bin Laden's long friendship with the Taliban's reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

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