US analysis of tape shows it is bin Laden - offical

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) US analysis of an audio tape released on Friday on the Internet has confirmed the speaker was al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a counterterrorism official said.

''The technical analysis has been completed and it has been determined that it is the voice of Osama bin laden,'' said the US official, who would not speak for attribution.

On the tape, bin Laden praised the slain leader of Iraq's al Qaeda wing, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and vowed al Qaeda will continue to fight US forces and their allies everywhere.

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