Networks Paid for Videos

CNN and CBS both paid for videotapes that depict al-Qaida poison gas experiments, but yesterday insisted that the money did not go to Osama bin Laden's terrorist organisation.

CNN began showing its video, from a cache of 64 al-Qaida tapes taken from Afghanistan, on its cable channel on Sunday night, and the CBS network followed with similar material the next morning.

CNN, which is continuing to air fresh material from the cache, at first said it had not paid for the tapes. Yesterday, blaming internal miscommunication, the network said it had paid in the "low five figures." The Miami Herald reported the amount as $30,000 (£21,000).

CBS paid a "very nominal, very standard" fee for its tapes, said Marcy McGinnis, senior vice president of news coverage.

CNN has said its reporter, Nic Robertson, was tipped off about the tapes by a long-time source and travelled 17 hours to get them. CNN said it paid someone who had access to the tapes, not the long-time source.

"We're certain it was not an al-Qaida source," said spokeswoman Christa Robinson.