Al Qaeda's leader has apparently declared the kidnapping of five French nationals in Niger was prompted by France's unjust treatment of Muslims.
An audio message, thought to be from Osama bin Laden, was aired on al Jazeera television.
France's interior minister Brice Hortefeux said, if authenticated, the recording vindicated his country’s security precautions in September amid fears of a terror attack.
Addressing the French, a speaker sounding like bin Laden said: "How is it right for you to occupy our countries and kill our women and children and expect to live in peace and security?
"The equation is clear - you are killed as you kill and abducted as you abduct, and as you damage our security, we damage your security."
Five French nationals and two Africans were kidnapped in Niger in September. Al Qaeda's north African wing has claimed responsibility.
The hostages are believed to be held in an area of the Sahara desert in neighbouring Mali.
The speaker said: "The kidnapping of your experts in Niger... is in retaliation for the tyranny you practice against our Muslim nation."
He continued: "The way to preserve your security is to end all aspects of your injustices against our Muslim nation, the most important of which is for you to withdraw from (former US president George) Bush's loathed war in Afghanistan."
The speaker also condemned a French ban on full-face Islamic veils.
"You behaved recklessly by banning our fair women from wearing the veil. Is it not our right to expel your invading men by attacking them?" he asked.
Mr Hortefeux said: "If these statements are confirmed, it reminds us that the threat is real and our vigilance must be total."
Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the mountainous border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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