US waging 'wider war' on Al Qaida

US defence secretary Leon Panetta says America’s fight against al Qaida terrorists is taking a new direction – moving beyond declared war zones like Afghanistan and requiring more partnering with foreign commandos.

In a speech to a Washington think-tank Mr Panetta said al Qaida had been badly damaged by a decade of US-led counter-terrorism operations around the world. But he stressed that the group remained a threat.