Al Jazeera TV have said they have a new voice recording of Osama bin Laden in which he claims responsibility for the Christmas Day attempt to blow up an American jet.

Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden slammed Palestinian negotiations with Israel and urged holy war for the liberation of Palestine in a new audio tape broadcast today.

THE brother of Kenneth Bigley, the hostage who was beheaded in Iraq, said yesterday the family saw the successful bid for an Irish passport as an angle to secure the release of the engineer.

Osama bin Laden is denying responsibility for the terror attacks on the US.

US jets have struck Kabul in a daylight raid. Explosions can be heard in the area of the city airport and in eastern districts.