Bin Laden video 'no overt threat'

Osama Bin Laden has made "no overt threat" against the US in a new video, according to US officials.

The clip of the al-Qaeda leader is nearly 30 minutes long, a US government official, who has seen a transcript of its contents, said.

The official said bin Laden mentions September 11 several times and says that while the US is the greatest economic and military power in the world, the nation is unjust.

The videotape appeared to have been made recently as the terror chief refers to the Democratic victory in Congress and to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected in May.

Meanwhile, counter-terrorism officials in the US are continuing to analyse the video.

The Department of Homeland Security said it had no credible information warning of an imminent threat to the United States.

Tom Casey, deputy State Department spokesman, said: "I don't think that anything he is likely to say or do is going to change our resolve or the resolve of our international partners to confront extremism."

The Site Intelligence Group said an internet announcement included a photo of Bin Laden from the video and showed his beard, which in previous messages has been streaked with grey, was black.

The al-Qaeda leader last appeared in a video in October 2004, shortly before the US presidential elections.

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