Analysts Studying Purported Bin Laden Tape

U.S. intelligence analysts are studying what is purported to be a new, videotaped message from al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials confirmed today.

The videotape was obtained a day after a group linked to al-Qaeda announced the imminent release of a new statement from the "Lion Sheik" who masterminded the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington six years ago.

U.S. officials familiar with the analysis said the tape's authenticity had not been verified, and they declined to describe its contents.

"We're doing a thorough analysis to determine if it's old or new stuff, and whether it contains threat information," said one U.S. official who spoke on condition that he not be identified by name, citing the sensitive nature of the analysis.

If the tape does contain new video footage of bin Laden, it would be the first time he has been seen on video since October 2004, when he released a video message during the run-up to the U.S. presidential election. Last July, al-Qaeda posted an audio recording of bin Laden praising the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

While new video images of bin Laden are rare, U.S. officials say they have no evidence suggesting that the tape may be linked to an imminent terrorist attack.

The release of a new videotaped message was announced by al-Qaeda's media production company in advertisements that appeared Thursday on several Islamic Web sites. The ads, in Arabic, state: "Soon, God willing, [a] video message by the Lion Sheik Osama bin Laden, may God protect him," according to a translation by CNN.