NEW AL-QAEDA VIDEO ON THE WAY

WASHINGTON - GROUPS that monitor Islamic Web sites say Al-Qaeda in a new video will urge jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West, the FBI said.

There was no evidence of a direct threat or that the group had obtained weapons of mass destruction, US intelligence officials said.

Spokesman Richard Kolko said the FBI sent out an alert to US law enforcement agencies about the video, expected in the next 24 hours.

'We got information the tape is coming,' said Mr Kolko. 'We sent out an alert to law enforcement to let them know the tape was coming.' The alert was a routine precaution sent to 1,800 US law enforcement agencies, he said.

There is no sign that Al-Qaeda has acquired the capability to use weapons of mass destruction, a US intelligence official said on Tuesday.

'At this point there isn't evidence they've obtained it,' the official said on condition of anonymity. 'But it's clearly their intent and it's something we need to be aware of and concerned about'. The official declined comment on the FBI alert.

. -- REUTERS