In the tape broadcast on Al Jazeera television, which US intelligence agencies believed was authentic, the Saudi-born militant criticised the Sudanese government for agreeing to a US-backed peace deal for the south.

He also inveighed against the Palestinians' Hamas-led government for breaking what he said was a taboo against "joining infidel assemblies" and entering parliament.

Despite moves taken by Sudan and Hamas that might be seen as in step with Washington's stated goal of peace and democracy for the region, bin Laden said the West was still isolating the Palestinian government and the United States was planning to send troops to southern Sudan "to steal its oil".

Bin Laden accused people in the West of sharing responsibility for their countries' war against Muslims, implying they were fair game for revenge attacks against militants.

The Sudanese government and Hamas rejected bin Laden's criticism outright. In Sudan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jamal Ibrahim said Khartoum distanced itself from bin Laden's statement.

Reuters