Paris ? The al-Qaida terror network remains a serious threat, with sleeper cells and agents “ready to act” and bases apparently relocated outside of Afghanistan, the world’s top justice and interior ministers said Monday.

In a grim assessment, ministers from the Group of Eight nations said terrorism was still “a pervasive and global threat” and warned that terrorists could use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in attacks.

The ministers pledged to strengthen cooperation between police forces and intelligence services to thwart terrorist attacks, and approved measures to combat the financing of crime and terrorism.

“The threat from the al-Qaida network remains serious,” the ministers said in a statement after a daylong meeting in Paris. “In spite of the elimination of most of its bases in Afghanistan, it seems that other camps have been reactivated in other areas.”

The statement gave no details. But French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said al-Qaida appeared to have moved bases to the former Soviet republic of Georgia and Russia’s restive Chechyna region.

The ministers said al-Qaida’s abilities had been shaken by recent arrests, but “dormant individuals and cells are always ready to act.”

In the last week, Pakistan has arrested at least 10 suspected al-Qaida members, including Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash, whom U.S. counterterrorism officials describe as one of the most wanted al-Qaida fugitives.

Sarkozy said al-Qaida “has been deeply disorganized,” but added: “We don’t expect to lower our guard for a long time.”

Home Secretary David Blunkett of Britain said the ouster of Saddam Hussein’s regime had also dealt terrorists a blow, although he agreed that terrorism remains a threat.

“Whilst we’ve removed one threat in relation to Iraq, a rogue state, and we’ve obviously damaged the morale of those who were able to draw on the tacit support of the regime, the network out there remains a problem,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft attended the meeting — a sign that France and the United States continue to work together against crime and terrorism despite their bitter dispute over the war in Iraq.

“French-American cooperation never stopped because it concerns the security of our citizens,” said Sarkozy. “Those disagreements (over Iraq) are real but that does not necessitate disaccord on the fight against terrorism.”