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US analysing 'new Bin Laden tape' US analysing 'new Bin Laden tape'
(40 minutes later)
The US administration says it has a new video tape which purportedly shows al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, officials say.The US administration says it has a new video tape which purportedly shows al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, officials say.
The government says it is studying the video to determine whether it contains new material.The government says it is studying the video to determine whether it contains new material.
An Islamist website had earlier announced a tape would be released to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks.An Islamist website had earlier announced a tape would be released to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Bin Laden has not been seen in a video since October 2004.Bin Laden has not been seen in a video since October 2004.
He did appear in footage on a militant website in July this year but the clip was undated and correspondents said it might be re-run footage.He did appear in footage on a militant website in July this year but the clip was undated and correspondents said it might be re-run footage.
Website photographWebsite photograph
"We can confirm that the US government has the video and it is being analysed," a US official told Reuters news agency."We can confirm that the US government has the video and it is being analysed," a US official told Reuters news agency.
The Islamist website often carries messages from al-Qaeda's media arm.The Islamist website often carries messages from al-Qaeda's media arm.
Ayman al-Zawahiri appears in a greater number of videosAyman al-Zawahiri appears in a greater number of videos
Media reports said the video would probably be aired within 72 hours.Media reports said the video would probably be aired within 72 hours.
The site included a photograph which appeared to show Bin Laden had aged compared with previous pictures - although his beard looked dark rather than greying.The site included a photograph which appeared to show Bin Laden had aged compared with previous pictures - although his beard looked dark rather than greying.
The Associated Press news agency reported on Friday that all the militant websites that usually carry al-Qaeda statements had become inaccessible in an unprecedented shutdown.
It quoted a terrorism expert as saying al-Qaeda might be trying to plug the leak of the video. The expert said the US was unlikely to have the technology or desire to cause the closures.
Correspondents say a new video would serve to dispel persistent rumours that the al-Qaeda leader has died.Correspondents say a new video would serve to dispel persistent rumours that the al-Qaeda leader has died.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it had no credible information of an imminent threat in the wake of the video announcement.The US Department of Homeland Security said it had no credible information of an imminent threat in the wake of the video announcement.
Deputy state department spokesman Tom Casey said: "I don't think that anything he is likely to say or do is going to change our resolve or the resolve of our international partners to confront extremism."Deputy state department spokesman Tom Casey said: "I don't think that anything he is likely to say or do is going to change our resolve or the resolve of our international partners to confront extremism."
In his October 2004 video, Bin Laden threatened new attacks against the US on the eve of the presidential election.In his October 2004 video, Bin Laden threatened new attacks against the US on the eve of the presidential election.
Another tape - audio - was released in January 2006. It referred to identifiable events, including the situation in Somalia.Another tape - audio - was released in January 2006. It referred to identifiable events, including the situation in Somalia.
Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a greater number of videos, including one berating the Pakistani army's assault on radical Islamists in Islamabad's Red Mosque in July.Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a greater number of videos, including one berating the Pakistani army's assault on radical Islamists in Islamabad's Red Mosque in July.
The US Senate voted to double the bounty on Bin Laden to $50 million (£24.6 million) in July.The US Senate voted to double the bounty on Bin Laden to $50 million (£24.6 million) in July.