Updated 7:04 AM ET June 2, 2002

CAIRO (Reuters) -- The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Sunday what it said was a statement from an al Qaeda spokesman warning the United States to get ready for another attack.

"What is coming to the Americans will not, by the will of God, be less than what has come," the newspaper quoted al Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman bu Ghaith as saying in a statement.

"So beware, America. Get ready. Get prepared. Put on the safety belt," he said in a statement al-Hayat said was published on the www.alneda.com web site.

The Web site, which has in the past regularly carried news on Afghanistan and statements it said came from Taliban leaders, could not be accessed immediately by Reuters. The site published a statement in April it said was from Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Bu Ghaith, a Kuwaiti-born cleric who emerged as an al Qaeda spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, said al Qaeda would continue to hit Americans, Jews and their targets, either "individuals or institutions."

He cited what he described as America's anti-Muslim policies in countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Indonesia and the Philippines as a reason for targeting the United States. He also complained Israel had acted against the Palestinians for 50 years with "American blessing."

Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network are blamed for masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks that killed 3,000 people.

U.S.-led coalition forces are hunting for the remnants of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, after launching an offensive in October that ousted the Taliban from power.