Press split over Bin Laden tape effect

Several Arabic newspapers believe Osama Bin Laden's video appeal to the American people a few days before Tuesday's presidential election will harm George W Bush's chances of re-election.

However, one dissenting Pan-Arab daily sees the Bin Laden intervention as boosting the incumbent's chances.

Egypt's Al-Jumhuriyah considers the tape "a devastating blow to the current US administration, which is focusing on fighting terrorism and which claims to be victorious against al-Qaeda".

Saudi Arabia's Al-Jazirah agrees that Mr Bush has been dealt "a severe blow".

A severe blow to Bush Saudi Arabia's Al-Jazirah

"The expectations were that Bush was hiding a surprise he would disclose on the eve of the presidential election.

"Some were even forecasting this would be an announcement on the arrest of Bin Laden. However, three days to voting day, Bin Laden appears on US and international TV screens, a severe blow to Bush as the Democratic Party candidate John Kerry exploits the situation."

Al-Jazirah points to what it sees as a litany of failures, including the ongoing war in Iraq and the growing US casualty list, the bombing of civilians in Falluja, and "the absence of tangible results in the hunt for prominent terrorist leaders".

"The appearance of Bin Laden, despite the massive resources which have been spent in hunting him down has increased criticism against the current US administration for waging war on Iraq instead of concentrating its efforts and those of its allies in the fight against Bin Laden."

'Kiss of death?'

The Iranian Arabic-language daily Al-Vefagh says of Mr Bush that "Bin Laden is now kissing him in his election campaign and pursuing him to the White House"

Bin Laden has given Bush the greatest boost London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat

"All were surprised to see him [Bin Laden] in the middle of the US electoral scene, thereby opening up a new file which indicates Bush's failure and the weakness of his administration in dealing with what he calls terrorism.

"This confirms Bush's failed reign. His mistakes will lead to his failure in the elections."

In contrast, a commentator in the pan-Arab Al-Sharq al-Awsat argues that "what Bin Laden did not know is that he has given Bush the greatest boost in the election by launching his video missile".

"If Bush succeeds, Bin Laden will have played a great role. US voters consider Bin Laden their enemy No. 1 and the video might therefore influence the voters to vote against Bin Laden by voting for Bush."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.