“A new audiotape message purportedly from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and posted on an Islamic Web site Thursday [May 6, 2004] offers 22 pounds of gold to anyone who kills Coalition Provisional Authority head Paul Bremer or top U.S. military officers. …The message suggested that the bounties were being offered in response to rewards the United States has offered for wanted figures in Afghanistan and Iraq, including bin Laden. …In addition to Bremer, [UN Secretary General Kofi] Annan and [UN Envoy Lakhdar] Brahimi, the message also offers a reward of 10,000 grams in gold to anyone who kills ‘the American chief commander or his deputy in Iraq.’ It did not specify a name. At current prices, that quantity of gold would be worth about $137,000. ‘You know that America promised big rewards for those who kill mujahedeen [holy warriors],’ the message said. ‘We in the al Qaeda organization will guarantee, God willing, 10,000 grams of gold to whoever kills the occupier, Bremer, or the American chief commander or his deputy in Iraq.’ ”
– “Purported bin Laden Tape Offers Gold for Bremer,” CNN.com, May 7, 2004