London: As an audio-tape attributed to Osama bin Laden praises a series of recent terror attacks, Western Intelligence analysts are examining its authenticity, but some US officials say that the taped voice sounded like that of the al-Qaida leader.

The message was broadcast across the Arab world on November 12 night by al-Jazeera television network, which declined to say how it obtained the recording.

US officials said that the voice sounded like that of bin Laden and that the language used was the literary style of Arabic previously used by the al- Qaida leader.

"It does sound like bin Laden's voice," said one official, adding, "We have to complete the technical analysis."

Another source said, "It's him. He's alive."

If the voice is of bin Laden, it would send a jolt through Western Intelligence agencies, who have been unsure for the past year whether bin Laden was dead or alive, 'The Independent' daily reported on November 13.

Experts said that proof that bin Laden was still alive would have huge implications - not only in energising al-Qaida as its members tried to regroup but also in raising fresh questions about the wisdom of attacking Iraq while the network's leader was still at large.

In the tape, the speaker referred to Bali bombing that killed almost 200, the killing last month of a marine in Kuwait, the bombing of a French oil tanker last month off Yemen and the Chechen hostage-taking in Moscow.

He said that the attacks were "undertaken by sons who are zealous in the defence of their religion" and condemned countries that backed US, specifically identifying Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany and Australia.

PTI