In an audio recording posted Islamist websites, the Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden has supposedly urged his Muslim followers to initiate a war in order to stop the Israeli assault in Gaza. The audio message comes three weeks after Israel's military offensive was launched against Hamas.

Dated in the present Islamic month, the 22-minute audio message - which is titled "A call for jihad to stop the aggression on Gaza" - is yet to be confirmed as an authentic one actually from Bin Laden.

The message goes thus: "God has bestowed us with the patience to continue the path of jihad for another seven years, and seven and seven years. The question is - can America continue its war with us for several more decades to come? Reports and evidence would suggest otherwise."

The message also says that the Muslims - the mujahideen - sympathise with their brothers in Palestine, who have undergone a lot of suffering; and stand by them as their fates are tied in fighting the Crusader-Zionist alliance - "in fighting until victory or martyrdom."

Making a reference to the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem - one of the holiest sites in Islam - the message says that there is only one strong way to bring the return of Palestine and al-Aqsa; that being "jihad in the path of God."

Dismissing the tape, which also appealed for donations, the US said that depicts the al-Qaeda leader's isolation and looks more like an attempt to raise money.