Al-Qaeda seeking Libya foothold: Pentagon

"It's safe to say that it's one of their goals to try and set up some sort of a footprint and network internally... playing for the long haul," said the official on condition of anonymity.

"Right now they probably play it safe but in the long term that's something we are worried about."

Qadhafi, wanted for alleged crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, remains in hiding but many of his inner circle and a son have fled to neighboring Niger, while Libya's new rulers tackle the aftermath of a more than six-months uprising.

"We're concerned that (Al-Qaeda) could try to take advantage of the situation," the Pentagon official said.

"Al-Qaeda's leadership and AQIM leadership has expressed an interest in getting involved and playing a role. They see that as an opportunity," he added.

A two-day meeting on security in Africa's Sahel desert region earlier this month ruled out any foreign military intervention to counter an Al-Qaeda threat exacerbated by the war in Libya.

The conference in Algiers was dominated by fears that an influx of weapons from Libya could benefit AQIM.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011