Al Qaeda seen trying to boost efforts in U.S.

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda remains the "most serious and dangerous" terrorism threat and is expected to boost attempts to place agents inside the United States, a new White House report said on Tuesday.

The report, titled "National Strategy for Homeland Security," said al Qaeda has protected its top leadership, replenished operational lieutenants and "regenerated a safe haven" in Pakistan's tribal areas.

White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend, asked whether al Qaeda infiltration efforts were under way, replied: "There's no question. They're not only under way, they're ongoing and have been."

The White House report incorporated findings of a national intelligence estimate released earlier this year.

"Although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the United States with ties to al Qaeda senior leadership, the group likely will intensify its efforts to place operatives here in the homeland," it said.

Despite reports of safe haven for al Qaeda in Pakistan, the White House reiterated that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had been a helpful ally in fighting terrorism. "We have enjoyed some of our biggest successes with our allies in Pakistan," Townsend told reporters.

The report was an update to the first White House national homeland security strategy issued in July 2002, which was after the September 11 attacks but before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

U.S.-led efforts to hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden have been unsuccessful and he has repeatedly issued audio and video tapes over the years showing that he remains alive.