Washington: The US Central Intelligence Agency said today (Jan 5, 2004) that a new audiotape attributed to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was probably authentic.

"The CIA has proceeded with a technical analysis of the tape which shows it is likely", to be bin Laden, who appeared to refer to the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and other recent developments.

The Arab satellite television channel Al Jazeera aired the tape yesterday (Jan 4, 2004).

According to reports, an audiotape was aired on Al-Jazeera satellite channel last night (Jan 4), a voice purported to be that of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to continue fighting a jihad, or holy war, rather than cooperating with Mid East peace efforts and the US occupation of Iraq.

The speaker, who referred to recent events, called on Muslims to "continue the jihad to check the conspiracies that are hatched against the Islamic nation."

Sources said the original message was 47 minutes long, of which the network aired only 14, showing a still photo of bin Laden against a dark blue background.

"My message is to incite you against the conspiracies, especially those uncovered by the occupation of the crusaders in Baghdad under the pretext of weapons of mass destruction, and also the situation in (Jerusalem) under the deceptions of the road map and the Geneva initiative," the speaker said.

A Mid East peace plan dubbed the Geneva Accord was launched on Dec 1 by Italian and Palestinian negotiators. The road map is a US-backed plan for a Palestinian State.

"We have to liberate the Islamic world from the military occupation of the crusaders by raising up the banner of jihad for God's sake," the speaker said.

Laden criticised the leaders of Muslim nations for refusing to stand against the United States for a fair settlement of the Palestinian issue and for not supporting the Palestinian resistance.