The US Defence Department said today it has custody of one of al-Qaida's most senior and experienced operatives, an Iraqi who was attempting to return to his native country when he was captured.

A slick two-hour al-Qaida propaganda “documentary” shows a multiethnic group of insurgents in Afghanistan – including Europeans, Arabs and other nationalities – preparing to attack US troops and showing off what they said was a captured US military laptop.

Pakistani troops pounded a cluster of suspected al-Qaida hideouts and a training facility with artillery, mortar and small arms fire during a third day of violence in a lawless tribal region near the border with Afghanistan.

Pakistani authorities have handed over to the United States a man thought to be the biggest catch yet in the war on terrorism.

US forces in Afghanistan are now focused on destroying remaining pockets of Taliban and al-Qaida resistance, rather than hunting down Osama bin Laden and other individuals.