CAIRO, Egypt  Usama bin Laden called for Iraqi insurgents to unite and avoid divisive "extremism," speaking in an audiotape aired Monday and apparently intended to win over Sunnis opposed to Al Qaeda's branch in Iraq.
In the audiotape broadcast on Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden said insurgents should admit "mistakes" and that he even advises himself not to be extreme in his leadership.
The tape appeared to be in response to moves by some Sunni Arab tribes in Iraq that have joined U.S. troops in fighting Al Qaeda members, as well as other Sunni insurgent groups that -- while still attacking Americans -- have formed coalitions opposed to Al Qaeda.
"Some of you have been lax in one duty, which is to unite your ranks," bin Laden said in the audiotape. "Beware of division ... Muslims are waiting for you to gather under a single banner to champion righteousness. Be keen to oblige with this duty."
"I advise myself, Muslims in general and brothers in al-Qaida everywhere to avoid extremism among men and groups," he said, saying leaders should not build themselves up as the sole authority, and that instead mujahedeen should follow "what God and his prophet have said."
Bin Laden used the Arabic word "ta'assub," which in traditional Islamic thought means extremism in allegiance or adherence to a group, to a degree that excludes others -- apparently advising flexibility to overcome divisions.
"Everybody can make a mistake, but the best of them are those who admit their mistakes," he said. "Mistakes have been made during holy wars but mujahedeen have to correct their mistakes."
U.S. counterterrorism authorities were studying the content and authenticity of the audiotape. However, officials often note that no one has faked a bin Laden recording in the past.
Al-Jazeera did not say how it obtained the tape.
IntelCenter, a a U.S. group that monitors militant messages, said it was bin Laden's third public statement this year, with the previous two on Sept. 8 and Sept. 20.
El líder de Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, ha lanzado una grabación que fue transmitida por ''Al Jazeera''. La grabación se entitula ''Carta al pueblo iraquí''. En ésta, bin Laden pide unidad a los insurgentes de Iraq, pero también dice que ellos han estado "relajados" en sus obligaciones. En la grabación, este es el tema principal de bin Laden.

"Algunos de ustedes han estado relajados en un deber, que es unir sus filas. Cuidado con la división ... El mundo musulmán espera para que se unan bajo una bandera. El interés de la nación islámica supera a aquel de un grupo. La fuerza de fe está en la fuerza de los enlaces entre los musulmanes y no aquellos de una tribu o nacionalismo. Cuidado con sus enemigos, especialmente aquellos que se infiltran en sus filas. Aconsejo por mí mismo y la nación islámica que no sigan individuos y países. Todo debería ser visto en la luz del Islam", decía bin Laden en la cinta.

La voz de la grabación no ha sido confirmada aún, y también se desconoce cómo llegó la cinta a manos de la red.