Bin Laden capture would not end Afghan war says Pentagon

The Pentagon says the war in Afghanistan will go on, even if Osama bin Laden is killed or captured.

General Richard Myers says the US wants to eliminate the entire al-Qaida leadership.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been at Nato headquarters in Brussels for a meeting on the war on terrorism.

He said: "This is not looking for one individual. If bin Laden were to show up today, or to be pronounced dead or in captivity today, that would not end this particular part of the war."

"We are after also the al-Qaida leadership, and there are several tens of leadership personnel that we need to bring to justice. Bin Laden is just one of those," Myers added.

He says the United States could not ease up on its military campaign until the Taliban leadership is smashed, and a government that is not friendly to terrorists installed.

Myers thanked both the allies and Nato's non-member partner countries, including Russia, for their assistance.