In the conversation, recorded less than a month ago, Omar and a senior aide were discussing the American-led hunt to track them down. The two men, using a mobile Thuraya satellite phone, spoke about tactics for several minutes. Omar then turned to a third person who was within a few yards of him, voice analysis has revealed. After exchanging a few words, Omar said that ?the sheikh sends his salaams (greetings).? Senior Taliban figures habitually refer to bin Laden as ?the sheikh.?

Voice analysis appears to corroborate the identification of bin Laden. ?It shows he was alive recently at least,? said a senior Afghan intelligence officer. ?Some people might like to think he is dead, but that's just wishful thinking.?

The revelation comes amid growing speculation that bin Laden is dead. He has looked gaunt and unwell in videos released by al-Qaeda, and appeared unable to use his left arm. There has been no public statement from bin Laden since early this year.

Some analysts say this lack of communication indicates that he might be dead, but others say he is biding his time. ?He does not want to be rushed into saying something reactive. He wants to make statements on his own terms,? said Abdul Bari Atwan, editor of al-Quds newspaper in London.

Other analysts feel Omar could have been bluffing, knowing he was being listened to by the Americans.

Bin Laden's whereabouts are unknown, but it is thought he is moving between Pakistan and Afghanistan via the border between the Afghan province of Paktia and the Pakistani tribal area of Waziristan. There were unconfirmed sightings of him in eastern Afghanistan in March and April. The only confirmed location for him was at Tora Bora, the cave complex south of Jalalabad, in December.

(China Daily October 6, 2002)