Osama bin Laden is alive and planning another attack on the United States, an Arab journalist with close ties to the Saudi-born militant's associates said today.
Mr Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London based al-Quds al-Arabimagazine, said bin Laden's associates told him that al-Qaeda network has regrouped and was determined to strike the United States.
"From what they said it seems they will attack inside the United States because that would mean the most publicity. They have regrouped after the US campaign," he said.
Mr Atwan said bin Laden was in good health after being wounded in a US-led attack on his Tora Bora base in Afghanistan in December.
"His people said he was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel. He is in good health now," said Atwan, who interviewed bin Laden in 1996 and keeps in contact with his associates and followers.
Bin Laden's followers informed Mr Atwan the world's most wanted man would not appear on video again until his al-Qaeda group launches another attack on the United States.
Bin Laden made a series of defiant videotapes broadcast on television as US warplanes pounded Afghanistan to destroy the Taliban and al Qaeda. But he has recently stayed out of sight, raising questions over whether he survived the bombing.