Bin Laden terror group 'muzzled by bombing campaign'

Canada's foreign minister says the bombing of Afghanistan has put Osama bin Laden's terrorist network on the defensive.

John Manley also says it has hampered the organisation's ability to launch new attacks.

Mr Manley made his comments during a speech to America's Foreign Policy Association in New York.

He said: "We know for one thing that there have not been any additional terrorist attacks since the bombing began, despite lots of intelligence information that they were being planned.

"So in my view we have clearly affected the ability of the al Qaida network to deliver another such attack.

"We have the Taliban certainly on the defensive and while they're busy trying to defend themselves or burrow into caves, they're not capable of launching other attacks."

Canada is the third-largest contributor to the US-led military campaign against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia which is said to be harbouring bin Laden.

It has committed ships, aircraft, special forces and about 2,000 military personnel to the international anti-terrorism coalition.