JOHN WALKER LINDH was last night ready to accept a 20-year prison term at his sentencing hearing, a deal struck in return for his information on former Taliban colleagues, Islamic extremists and future possible al-Qaida attacks.

JOHN WALKER LINDH was last night sentenced to a 20-year prison term at his sentencing hearing, a deal struck in return for his information on former Taliban colleagues, Islamic extremists and future possible al-Qaida attacks.

John Walker Lindh and other al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners told US interrogators that the September 11 hijackings were supposed to be the first of three increasingly severe attacks against Americans. Their claims have not been corroborated, government officials said.

A book about al Qaida produced by a British academic is on the best-seller list in the US.

Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden is alive and recruiting fresh support in Britain and Europe, according to an expert on al Qaida.