Until Tuesday, no witness, including two defectors from bin Laden's group, had said el Hage actually belonged to al Qaeda.

CNN: Witness backtracks at embassy bombings trial

The Russian Government has accused Khattab of links with Osama Bin Laden's group but the commander said he had not seen him since his years in Afghanistan.

BBC: Obituary: Chechen rebel Khattab

He also ruled out any links between the group and Osama Bin Laden.

BBC: Iraqi Kurds fear new Islamist group

Following Mr Libi's presumed death, perhaps the only significant figure believed to be left there is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the group's leader since bin Laden's assassination.

ECONOMIST: These days just talking seems accomplishment enough

In his isolated final years, bin Laden became a micromanager, admonishing his Yemeni group that its members should always gas up and eat heartily before they embarked on road trips so that they wouldn't have to stop at gas stations and restaurants monitored by government spies.

CNN: SHARE THIS

In the wake of the raid that killed bin Laden and a relentless drone campaign, the group's leaders have taken an increasing number of precautions to reduce the Americans' ability to track them, said Mr. Jones, who has written a book on the pursuit of al Qaeda.

WSJ: Drone Strike Kills al Qaeda No. 2

In May 2002 Riaz Basra was killed, and analysts believe that the group began to develop links with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

BBC: Profile: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

Now, the U.S. Justice Department is examining whether Alamoudi was conspiring with a London group the Saudi government says is linked to Osama bin Laden.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Islamist penetration of Homeland Security?

As well as pursuing Gen Pinochet, Mr Garzon also rose to prominence in Spain for investigating Basque separatist group Eta, 1980s-era government death squads and indicting Osama Bin Laden.

BBC: Spain Judge Baltasar Garzon vows to fight conviction