Al-Qaida biological warfare program more advanced than thought

WASHINGTON -- Discoveries in Afghanistan show that al-Qaida's research into biological weapons was more advanced than previously estimated by the United States, a new intelligence report says.

While terrorists still prefer conventional bombs and other traditional methods of attack, they are becoming increasingly interested in using poisons, disease weapons and other biological weapons, the U.S. report says.

"Nonstate actors are becoming more interested in the potential of using biological warfare as a relatively inexpensive way to inflict serious damage," it warns. The report provides few specifics as evidence.

Traces of anthrax were found in labs in Afghanistan, U.S. officials have said. In addition, an Islamic extremist group with ties to al-Qaida in northern Iraq appears to have conducted some tests with ricin, a simple poison extracted from castor beans.

"Documents and equipment recovered from al-Qaida facilities in Afghanistan show that bin Laden has a more sophisticated biological weapons research program than previously discovered," says the report.

The unclassified report was submitted by CIA director George J. Tenet to Congress late last month, almost six months after it was due. It covers various countries' advances in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, long-range missiles and high-tech conventional weapons, in late 2001.

It repeats charges leveled in earlier reports, saying that Iran, North Korea and Iraq have clandestine programs to develop such weapons, but it contains few new specifics.

In addition, the report says Libya tried to covertly acquire technical information on nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

The report also notes that Israel is expanding its cooperation with India, negotiating deals on several high-tech conventional weapons systems, including airborne early warning radars, tactical missile defenses, and drones.

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Central Intelligence Agency: www.cia.gov