Al-Qaida's American spokesman urged fighters to meet US President George W. Bush with bombs when he visits the Middle East, according to a new video posted on the Internet.

US-born Adam Gadahn also tore up his American passport as part of a symbolic protest in the nearly hour-long rhetoric-dominated tape - al-Qaida's first message of the new year - which was posted on Sunday.

The release comes just three days before Bush is scheduled to arrive in Israel for a weeklong trip that will also bring him to the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as part of his push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.