An American Web daily has claimed that Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda has formed the world's 'first terrorist naval force' and positioned 15 ships in the Indian ocean or the Pacific ocean.

The US State Department has issued a warning about threats to its maritime interests and the Philippines government has raised the alert levels at all its ports.

Quoting intelligence reports, the World Net Daily said Al Qaeda "has purchased at least 15 ships in the last two
years."

It said the Lloyds of London reportedly helped Britain's MI-6 and the United States' CIA to "trace the sales made through a Greek shipping agent suspected of having direct contacts with Laden."

The ships, the report said, are "capable of carrying cargo of lethal chemicals, a dirty bomb or even a nuclear weapon."

"When the ships left their home ports in the Horn of Africa weeks ago, some were destined for ports in Asia," the daily said.