OSAMA BIN LADEN is being given safe haven with the help of Pakistani officials, British security sources believe. Recent intelligence reports coming from remote tribal areas of Pakistan have indicated the Al-Qaeda leader is being given refuge by senior figures in the regional government. He is believed to be hiding along the mountainous 1,500 mile frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where many people are hostile to America. A senior British source said the growing view in the British and American intelligence communities was that Bin Laden was in the area and receiving support. "It's the kind of help that suggests he is being protected or he has bought influence," said the source.A videotape broadcast last Friday by Al-Jazeera confirmed that Bin Laden was in good health, despite reports that he was dying of kidney failure. His gestures also contradicted rumours that he had lost the use of an arm. He was dressed in a golden cloak and white turban at a lectern, in a pose similar to those adopted by the candidates in the US presidential debates. Magnus Ranstorp, a St Andrews University terrorism expert, said the tape could signal another attack: "There has often been a correlation between Bin Laden appearing and attacks being launched." The tape's main purpose would be to undermine America's sense of security and damage Bush. "What he's saying is less important than the fact he appears at all," Ranstorp said.