Osama bin Laden

The foreign secretary has rejected an apparent offer by Osama bin Laden of a truce with Europe.

A tape broadcast by two Arabic television networks - the authenticity of which has yet to be confirmed - saw the al Qaeda leader offer to halt attacks in Europe if the continent's governments "stop attacking Muslims".

The voice on the tape calls for European forces to leave "our countries" and says that the offer is open for the next three months.

It follows last month's bomb attacks in Madrid, which have been blamed on Islamic extremists.

'No negotiating'

But addressing journalists after a meeting with Polish foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz on Thursday, Jack Straw said the West would not be taking up the offer.