WASHINGTON: The United States dismissed a call by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for holy war against Pervez Musharraf's government and pledged to work closely with ally Pakistan to confront extremism.

"He can threaten whoever he wants," State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters.

"We are going to continue to work with Pakistan, as well as with our other friends and allies throughout the world, to confront him and make sure that we keep ourselves and our friends safe from attack from him and those like him."

"I guess it's shocking that Osama bin Laden doesn't like countries working together to confront the kind of radical extremism and perversion of Islam that he represents," Casey said, with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"I don't think it changes at all our cooperation or our desire to work with President Musharraf and the people and government of Pakistan to confront Al-Qaeda and confront extremism in that country," he said.

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