Washington: Parts of audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden aired on Sunday on an Arabic-language TV network in which the al-Qaeda leader attacks the West for cutting off funds to the Palestinian Hamas-led government.
Al-Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, said the new tape is from bin Laden. CNN could not immediately confirm the tape's authenticity.
The speaker on the tape says "the opposition to the Hamas government is proof of the crusade against Muslims."
The remarks about the halting of funds suggest the tape is relatively recent.
The US and some other Western nations have officially halted contributions to the Palestinian government since Hamas took over.
The militant group Hamas has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in recent years, killing many civilians. Israel and the US State Department consider Hamas a terrorist organization, though it also operates an extensive social services network in the territories.
The last audio tape attributed to bin Laden was heard in January. In it, the speaker says plans for terror attacks are under way -- and also offers a "long-term truce."
"The war against America and its allies will not be confined to Iraq," the voice on the January tape says, adding that "Iraq has become a magnet for attracting and training talented fighters."
"It's only a matter of time," the voice says, referring to attacks. "They are in the planning stages, and you will see them in the heart of your land as soon as the planning is complete."
The last videotaped message from bin Laden was seen just before the US presidential election in 2004.
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