Osama Bin Laden, the man most wanted by the United States, has denied any link with alleged Kuwaiti terrorists and said he is not planning any attacks on US forces in the region, a newspaper reported Monday.
"I assure you that we are not linked with them (the Kuwaiti group) in any organizational relations, or any other form," Bin Laden told Kuwait's Al-Rai Al-Aam by phone from an undisclosed location.
"The Qaeda (The Base - Bin Laden's group) has no intention of attacking US military bases or forces stationed in the area.
"Neither I nor my followers have the intention to strike against oil installations, civil or military targets in Kuwait or any Arab country," he added.
Kuwait said it has arrested six Kuwaiti suspects for plotting to carry out attacks against targets in Kuwait and the region, and press reports linked the group to Bin Laden.
The leader of the Qaeda also denied any link with the suspects arrested in Yemen in connection with the October 12 attack on the destroyer USS Cole which killed 17 US sailors.
"We have no relation with the persons who have been detained, and they do not represent us in any way," said Bin Laden.
Kuwait's cabinet on Sunday hailed the arrest of the group, saying they foiled a "terrorist plot by criminal elements to destabilize the country".
A senior interior ministry official said the prime target of the group was to carry out suicide bombings on US military convoys, moving in and out of Camp Doha.
"Their plan was to use booby traps to attack those convoys through suicidal bombings."
The US military maintains a 4,500-strong contingent in Kuwait that uses equipment stockpiled at Camp Doha, 20 kilometers (13.5 miles) west of the capital, for joint maneuvers and live firing practice.
Three members of the group were picked up on Thursday with 133 kilograms (293 pounds) of powerful explosives and 1,450 detonators, while a fourth suspect was arrested in Qatar Saturday and was due to be extradited to Kuwait on Sunday.
Two more suspects were caught on Saturday but the leader of the group, a Moroccan, was still at large.
Bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa that killed more than 220 people, is living in Afghanistan as a guest of the ruling Taliban militia -- KUWAIT CITY (AFP)
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