Threat of Attacks

The group, which calls itself the "Voice of the Khalifate," said Germany and Austria were provoking attacks by cooperating with the US.

"Why would you (Germany) want all this (economic interests) threatened for the sake of Bush and his band?" the group said in a video posted on an Islamist Web site believed to be used by extremist groups, including al Qaeda.

"Isn't it stupid to encourage the mujahideen to launch attacks in your country?" a masked speaker said in the video which is in Arabic language with German subtitles.

The speaker in the video also said that Austria relied on tourism for much of its revenue, adding: "This situation would change if there is a security threat and Austria becomes a country targeted by the mujahideen." The speaker added that Austria could have no interest in getting involved in a war between the mujahideen and the US.

"Do not destroy the security of a whole country for the sake of five soldiers you have sent to Afghanistan," said the speaker. "Decide quickly and withdraw your soldiers."

Austria beefs up security in Kabul

Stefan Hirsch, a spokesman for the Austrian defense ministry in Vienna told Reuters that Austria was aware of the video message.

"We have immediately arranged the maximum security precautions for our officers in Kabul… (who) have been instructed not to leave the premises of the headquarters (of NATO-led forces)."

Austria has been involved in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan since 2002. The mandate for its deployment ends at the end of the year, following which the government has to decide on a possible extension.

The German foreign ministry has so far declined to comment on the video.

Minister: Germany trying to free hostages

The video appeared on the same day as another message was issued by a little-known militant group in Iraq which said it would kill two German hostages, a mother and son, in 10 days unless Berlin withdrew its troops from Iraq.

Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said Saturday Germany will do everything in its power to secure the release of the two hostages. The minister said a foreign ministry crisis team was studying the video.

Steinmeier described the video, in which the 61-year-old woman was shown begging for her life, as "a distressing document."

The Berlin-born woman, who is married to an Iraqi professor, was kidnapped along with her son in early February by gunmen who broke into the family's home in Baghdad.

Germany vehemently opposed the US-led war in Iraq, but it does have 3,000 troops in the relatively stable north of Afghanistan, where it commands the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Italy too urged to pull out troops from Afghanistan

Meanwhile, news agency AFP reported that a top Taliban commander threatened Saturday to kill a kidnapped Italian journalist unless spokesmen from the movement were freed and a date set for Italian troops to withdraw from Afghanistan.

"If our demands are not met within seven days, we will slaughter this man," said Mullah Dadullah, speaking to AFP by telephone from an unknown location. "We have no enmity with the Italians. If they set a date for their withdrawal, we will release the Italian," he said.

The 52-year-old Repubblica correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo has been missing in southern Afghanistan since Sunday last week along with two Afghans, believed to be an interpreter and a driver or guide.

Italy has nearly 2,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a 35,000-strong NATO-led force. Italy's lower house of parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved funding to keep the deployment in the country.