U.S. On Alert For Terrorism

A week after the FBI put him on its 10 Most Wanted List, suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden is said by U.S. intelligence to be in the advanced stages of planning another attack.

Though the timing and location of the strike are unknown, a U.S. official said there have been indications in recent weeks that bin Laden has been moving unspecified materials that could be used in a terrorist operation, and that U.S. facilities in African nations such as Ghana or Mozambique could be targets.

Blamed by the United States for ordering last year's bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, bin Laden is thought to be in Afghanistan, where the FBI said it is getting no help in bringing him to justice.

Because of the difficulty of launching an operation at targets in the United States, bin Laden is expected to focus on targets in poorer countries where security is weaker, intelligence officials have concluded.

But the official stressed that there is no clear intelligence on the timing or target of any impending attack.

CIA Director George Tenet said in February "there is not the slightest doubt" that bin Laden, "his worldwide allies, and his sympathizers are planning further attacks against" the United States "at any time."

"We are anticipating bombing attempts ... but his operatives are also capable of kidnappings and assassinations," Tenet said.

Bin Laden has openly declared his hostility to the United States for its support of Israel and for the presence of U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf region.

Written by John Diamond