Laden 'evaded Pakistani raid'

Speaking to the BBC, the official said the information came in a fax sent to a former Taleban member three days ago.

It comes amid reports of stepped-up American military operations aimed at capturing al-Qaeda's leader.

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Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

His former Tora Bora hideout in eastern Afghanistan has come under particular scrutiny.

The official, who did not want to be named, says he met a former member of the Taleban who had received a fax referring to "the Sheikh", the term often used for Bin Laden by his supporters.

The fax reportedly said the Sheikh was alive and well and that he had escaped an attempt by Pakistani forces to catch him on their side of the border last week in the tribal areas of South Waziristan.

It is a surprising claim - especially that the news came by fax, given that American intelligence and military units are likely to be keeping a close eye on all electronic communications.