(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-04 21:51

Tokyo -- Al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden used to consider doing some harm to Japan's economy by attacking tankers heading to the country, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, quoting a former member of the terrorist group.

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is shown speaking in a video released on a web site on September 7, 2007. [Agencies]

The former member told Kyodo's correspondent in Egypt in a recent interview that bin Laden expressed the idea in late 2001 due to frustration with Japan's decision to support the US-led war on terror.

"Japan can't stand any attack against its interests. We could destroy Japan's economy. We could attack tankers headed to Japan,"the al-Qaida leader was quoted by the former member as telling a close aide when they were hiding in Tora Bora mountains of eastern Afghanistan.

The former member, a Saudi Arabian citizen who was one of bin Laden's guards in Tora Bora mountains, said he was not aware of any specific plan, Kyodo said.