One might think this was a satirical piece, or a joke, but it's. Al-Qaida has come out backing John McCain, though on a private website, not publicly.

Terrorism experts have told a congressional hearing in Washington the search for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is likely to be a long one. The hearing came as it was revealed that a top al-Qaida operative, Abu Obaidah al-Masri, is believed to have died some time ago in Pakistan.

Military and political analysts in Pakistan are expressing growing concern that al-Qaida and Taliban-linked insurgents are now emerging from their traditional strongholds along the border with Afghanistan and are becoming a serious threat to the entire country.

The top U.S. military officer says the missile strike that reportedly killed a key al-Qaida commander in northern Pakistan was a "very important" one in the war on terrorism.

Abu Laith al-Libi, a top al-Qaida commander believed to have been killed in a missile strike earlier this week, had a long history of militancy.

A leading al-Qaida operative apparently was among those killed in Pakistan recently by a missile reportedly launched from a U.S. military drone. However, the Pakistani government says it does not know the source of the explosion or who was killed. The tribal region where Abu Laith al-Libi was reportedly killed, has seen frequent militant attacks on security forces. As Ayaz Gul reports, another one took place on Friday killing at least four soldiers.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says Iraqi forces will mount a major offensive against al-Qaida elements in the northern city of Mosul.

Al Qaeda militants killed at least eight members of a neighbourhood police patrol in southern Baghdad after taking them by surprise by driving up in a stolen Iraqi army vehicle, police said.

Fifteen al-Qaida suspects were killed by U.S. and Iraqi troops in a daylong battle south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The U.S. military has launched a new "Most Wanted" campaign offering rewards of up to US$200,000 for information leading to the capture of a dozen Taliban and al-Qaida leaders.

A leading Saudi cleric has publicly denounced Osama bin Laden, a rare move among clerics in his native Saudi Arabia who have avoided direct criticism of the Al Qaeda leader.

President Bush says the release of a new video by al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is a vivid reminder of the dangers still facing the world.