LONDON, Aug 27: Osama bin Laden is firmly back in command of Al Qaeda and the group is digging in for guerilla attacks on US troops in Afghanistan, an Arab journalist with close ties to Osama’s associates said on Tuesday.

Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based daily al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, said Al Qaeda associates recently told him the network had regained confidence after facing intense US. bombing and was ready to fight US troops over the long haul.

“Al Qaeda were shattered during the US bombing so it was difficult for (Osama) bin Laden to stay in control. Now they said he is fully in command again and they have regrouped and are organized again,” Atwan said.

“Al Qaeda people say they are relaxed now and they will fight a war of attrition against US soldiers,” added Atwan, who interviewed Osama in 1996 and keeps in contact with his associates and followers.

Osama was in good health and “safe” and was planning new attacks on the United States, he was told, but his whereabouts were not disclosed.

Atwan said that the Al Qaeda and Taliban had re-established links that were severed when the United States began its military campaign in Afghanistan.

“They are working together again. They are organizing,” he said.

There is no trail leading to Osama bin Laden.

His associates told Atwan that the Saudi-born militant was well, “safe” and planning new attacks on the United States. They did not say where he was currently living.

“My sense is that he will time any new attack to coincide with a US attack on Iraq. He would want to capitalize on this to appeal to the Arab street so he will probably delay any attacks until the United States moves on Iraq,” said Atwan.

“He will probably want to be seen as the only Arab standing up to the United States when the United States attacks Iraq.”

Osama bin Laden made a series of defiant videotapes broadcast on television as US warplanes pounded Afghanistan. But he has recently stayed out of sight.

His associates said Osama was well protected but his entourage was small in order to avoid capture, said Atwan.

“He is the master of disguise and he is making sure that he is not giving anything away so he travels in a small group,” he said.

Osama’s top aide, Ayman al-Zawahri, the Egyptian-born chief strategist of Al Qaeda, was with him along with a small group of militant bodyguards, Atwan was told.—Reuters