Washington:  There is "a big and continual push" to capture or kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, but his demise won't end the organisation s menace, CIA Director General Michael Hayden said today in an Associated Press interview.

The CIA is equally interested in those jockeying to replace bin Laden in what he predicted will be a "succession crisis."

"It will be really interesting to see how that plays out. The organisation is a lot more networked than it is ruthlessly hierarchical," Hayden said of the group behind the September 11,2001 attacks on the US. "How do you pick the next overall leader?"

A number of Egyptians are now part of al-Qaida s top echelon and may struggle for power amongst themselves. Bin Laden's current number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is an Egyptian.

Despite al-Qaida's resilience, taking out bin Laden would be a psychological blow to the organisation, Hayden said.

"If there ever was a sense of invulnerability, I think killing or capturing him would shatter it once and for all," he said.

Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the lawless tribal areas of western Pakistan. The new Pakistani government is negotiating a new peace agreement with the tribes that would have them expel extremists and police the region on their own. Hayden said he believes the result will be similar to the last agreement Pakistan struck with the tribes-- nothing is likely to change.

Source : PTI