Bin Laden 'may launch attacks'

The head of Israeli military intelligence, Amos Malka, has warned of possible attacks organised by the Saudi-born militant, Osama bin Laden.

Speaking on Israeli television, General Malka said Mr bin Laden's activists had already tried to enter Israel.

He said they would try again, and might well succeed.

General Malka said Mr bin Laden might also try to recruit supporters within Israel.

On Friday, Washington placed its forces in the Gulf on the highest state of alert to avert a possible but unspecified attack.

The Arabic-language MBC satellite channel says Mr bin Laden told it in recent days that his supporters were preparing to hit US and Israeli interests worldwide.

The United States holds Mr bin Laden responsible for the bombing of its Ugandan and Tanzanian embassies in 1998, which killed more than 200 people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service