US targets terror in Europe

Europe is now a major terrorist battlefield, the chief of US forces in Europe and west Africa has warned.

General Joseph Ralston told USA Today that terrorists escaping from Afghanistan present new perils to the West. "There is a lot of work to do in the European theatre," he said.

Intelligence sources say "hundreds" of al Qaeda operatives fled to terrorist cells in Europe. General Ralston added that Algeria, Lebanon and the Balkans are under close scrutiny.

Algeria is a country which might be used as a base for terror attacks on US interests. "There are areas of Algeria that are not governed," said General Ralston.

Warships in the Mediterranean have begun boarding ships which strike them as suspicious and US commanders are improving their intellig encesharing network.

Washington officials also confirmed today that the US and its allies have completely lost track of Osama bin Laden, who is presumed to be alive and directing his terrorist networks.