Photo: AFP/GETTY
"The White House has declared its wish to execute (Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and his co-accused). The day the United States takes such a decision, it would be also taking the decision that any of you falling into our hands will be executed," a voice identified as bin Laden said in the audio message.
The tape said if the US decided to execute, al-Qaeda would also execute anyone it captured.
Mohammed, the self-confessed mastermind of the 2001 attacks on the US, is expected to stand trial along with his four alleged conspirators in America next year. But White House officials have yet to decide if the trial will take place in a civilian or military court.
In the brief 74-second tape aired, the al-Qaeda chief said that President Barack Obama was "still walking in the footsteps" of his predecessor, George W. Bush, by escalating the war in Afghanistan and being "unjust" to al-Qaeda prisoners.
Bin Laden also condemned Mr Obama for "oppressing our prisoners that you are holding, beginning with the mujahid (holy warrior) hero Khaled al-Sheikh Mohammed."
US politicians, he added in the audiotape, had "oppressed us and still do, especially by backing Israel, which occupies the land of Palestine".
The latest statement attributed to bin Laden was the al-Qaeda leader's first since January, when a voice purporting to be his claimed responsibility for the botched Christmas Day bombing of a US airliner and promised to carry out further strikes on American targets.
Bin Laden also referred to US support for Israel in the January message.
"God willing, our attacks against you will continue as long as you maintain your support to Israel," he said.
"America should not dream of security until we enjoy it as a reality in Palestine," said the al-Qaeda chief.
Mohammed, who was captured in Pakistan in 2003, is the most senior al-Qaeda operative in US custody, and is currently being held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In 2008, the US charged him with murder and war crimes in connection with the Sept 11 attacks. Pentagon officials have said they will seek the death penalty.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after his capture. 
Osama bin Laden.
In an audio tape posted on Al Jazeera, a voice identified as that of Osama bin Laden has warned the United States that al-Qaeda will retaliate if the US decides to execute the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.

"The White House has declared its wish to execute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other alleged conspirators. The day the United States takes such a decision, it would be also taking the decision that any of you falling into our hands will be executed," said a voice on the 74-second-long tape, which is believed to be Bin Laden's.

Osama also denounced US president Barack Obama, for "oppressing our prisoners that you are holding, beginning with the mujahid holy warrior hero Khaled al-Sheikh Mohammed." He said that US politicians "oppressed us and still do, especially by backing Israel, which occupies the land of Palestine".

"God willing, our attacks against you will continue as long as you maintain your support to Israel. America should not dream of security until we enjoy it as a reality in Palestine," the tape continued. "They used to think that America across the oceans is protected from the rage of the oppressed until our reaction was loudly heard at your home on the 9/11 with God’s help."

Khaled Sheikh Mohammed is expected to stand trial in the US, along with four accused co-conspirators, in 2011. It is currently unclear whether he will be tried in a civilian or military court; prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs responded to the message in a statement. "The president has rightly increased our tempo and put pressure on the al-Qaeda network. We see that al-Qaeda has nothing to spread but hate and that's why the administration will keep up the pressure to destroy the al-Qaeda network," he commented.