BBC News Online: World: South Asia

New Bin Laden video found

The technical quality of the tape is very poor

It is the latest of a series of videotaped statements by the al-Qaeda leader which have come to light in recent days. The tapes do not give any indication of when or where they were filmed.

In a sermon to listeners off-camera, Bin Laden tells followers to take the hard path of Jihad (holy war) and warns believers not to be tempted by the ease of modern life.

"One hour in the line of battle, to uphold the name of God against the Jews, the Christians and their cronies... is better than worshipping God for 60 years, or even a century," the Saudi-born militant said.

Fit and healthy

Although he spends far more time on religion than politics, Bin Laden briefly mentions the suffering of Muslims in Bosnia, Chechnya, Indonesia and Palestinian areas.

He also expounds on his biggest grievance, the presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia - particularly women soldiers.

Correspondents say that Bin Laden looks fit and healthy in the tape, which could have been filmed months, if not years, previously.

As in previous videotapes, the speaker's left arm is kept immobile, though it is not known why. Some analysts have suggested he is nursing an injury.