The Al-Qaeda network headed by chief terror suspect Osama bin Laden is a shadowy organisation with worldwide reach that espouses one overriding cause — holy war against the United States.Seen as the force behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that left some 3,000 people dead, Al-Qaeda has since stepped up its attacks around the world. “The chances of seeing a rapid end to Al-Qaeda-related terrorism are nil. Using minimal resources and exploiting their global notoriety, they have been able to create the impression of an international crisis,” experts said in a UN report published last month.Full Story