Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of an al-Qaeda in Iraq has offered US forces safe withdrawal from Iraq within a month if they left their heavy weapons behind, according to an audio tape posted on the internet on Friday.

The authenticity of the tape was verified, and it was posted on two main web sites used by al-Qaeda and other armed groups in Iraq.

"We call on Bush not to waste this historic opportunity," said the speaker, identified as Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic state in Iraq, which was announced in October by al-Qaeda and groups linked to it.

"We are awaiting your response within two weeks of this announcement," said the speaker in the tape, which was dated December 22. He said armed groups would refrain from attacking withdrawing US forces if it is completed within a month.

Iraqi Sunni groups including al-Qaeda announced in October the creation of what they described as an Islamic state in Iraq.

Addressing the United States, al-Baghdadi said: "We are announcing today our orders for you, so obey them before you regret it.

'US rebuffed'
"We order you to withdrew your troops immediately, using troop carriers and aircraft, and taking only your personal weapons. Don't withdraw any heavy weapons. Instead you should hand that and your military bases over to the holy warriors of the Islamic State," he said on the tape.

Al-Baghdadi claimed that Washington had tried to open a channel of negotiation with his group through the Saudi government. But he had rejected the initiative.

"The giant has started to fall. It is looking for an escape and seeking to negotiate with all the other groups and parties," al-Baghdadi said.

"They sent us al-Salool," he said, employing an abusive historical term to refer to the Saudi ruling family.

Al-Baghdadi said he had spurned the offer because "we are not ones to negotiate with those who killed our children".

Can't this Digery guy wise up? The terror is from our own intelligence agencies. He's cute with the graphics and all, but he disappoints me.