Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Osama bin Laden's latest audiotape suggests the leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network fears losing the support of Sunni Arabs as Iraq takes steps toward a more unified government, a White House spokesman said.

Bin Laden, in a 56-minute tape, urged Muslims to oppose the U.S.-backed government in Iraq and warned Iraqi tribal councils not to stand in the way of al-Qaeda forces, the Associated Press reported, citing an Internet audiotape released today.

``Our duty is to foil these dangerous schemes, which try to prevent the establishment of an Islamic state in Iraq,'' bin Laden said, according to the news service, which cited Search for International Terrorist Entities, a Washington-based Internet site that tracks extremist Web sites.

Iraq security forces have assumed responsibility for nine of 18 provinces after President George W. Bush announced a U.S. troop surge almost a year ago. White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto said the tape is a reminder the aim of al- Qaeda in Iraq is to block democracy and freedom for Iraqis.

``It also reminds us that the mission to defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq is critically important and must succeed,'' Fratto said in an e-mailed statement.

Bin Laden also said al-Qaeda intends ``to liberate Palestine, the whole of Palestine from the (Jordan) river to the sea,'' the AP said, threatening ``blood for blood, destruction for destruction.''

``We will not recognize even one inch for Jews in the land of Palestine as other Muslim leaders have,'' bin Laden said, according to the news agency.

`Stark Reminder'

Republican presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona said bin Laden's latest message and the Dec. 27 assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, ``are stark reminders that we are engaged in a worldwide conflict with Islamist extremism and we cannot relent or waver.''

Bin Laden, whose al-Qaeda network carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, has issued five audio tapes since September from his presumed hiding place on the mountainous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

``We cannot succumb to the false and dangerous notion that we can retreat or waver on one major front in this war and not embolden our enemies elsewhere,'' McCain said in a statement. ``Rather, we must stay on offense against al Qaeda and continue to support the forces of moderation in their life and death battle against the forces of evil and extremism.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Roger Runningen in Waco, Texas at rrunningen@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 29, 2007 20:42 EST