Bin Laden often evaded capture
Gen Henri Bentegeat said about 200 French troops were operating with US forces in south-eastern Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaida.
"Our men were not very far. On several occasions, I even think he slipped out of a net that was quite well closed," he said, adding that "the intricacy of last Thursday's Madrid bombings suggested the involvement of al-Qaida."
