TORONTO (CP) - The RCMP was granted more time Friday to examine a laptop, dozens of DVDs, audiocassettes and diaries seized in Canada from the eldest daughter of a family that has admitted ties to al-Qaida.
A judge gave the RCMP until next February to scrutinize Zaynab Khadr's personal belongings, including a laptop, dozens of DVDs and several audiocassettes.

The items were seized in February at Pearson Airport in Toronto as suspected evidence of links to terrorist activity.

The ruling was based on last-minute affidavit filed by the RCMP Friday morning which explained why three months has not been enough time to complete the investigation.

Sgt. Konrad Shourie said in the affidavit that more time is needed to see if there is any hidden data or messages on the computer disks. He also pointed to a lengthily forensic investigation into the contents of the laptop.

"This is a time-consuming process as the program searches through even deleted materials in an attempt to reconstruct the history of the computer's activities," the document reads.

It also said 16 of the audio tapes are in Arabic, meaning they have to be translated before they can be analysed by the Department of Defence.

But Khadr's lawyer Dennis Edney told the court the tapes should be returned to their owner because the Mounties have had ample time.

"We are talking about Arabic - a common, well-known language," he said.

The ruling did limit to three months the time the Mounties have to finish examining six of the seized audiocassettes and several published books about Osama Bin Laden.

The judge ruled the RCMP did not give sufficient reason to further delay processing those items.

The only thing ordered returned to Khadr was a leather case that held DVDs.

The ruling came two days after authorities seized more of Khadr's belongings entering Canada from Pakistan.

Edney said he was notified Friday morning before the court hearing that authorities had seized 11 CDs and DVDs, an electronic organizer, six more audio tapes and various documents written in a foreign language.

He would not comment on how the items were being brought into the country when they were seized by Canada Customs.

Edney said outside court that the investigation into the items has put his client under serious stress and he disputed that some of the materials are relevant to a terrorist investigation.

"Personal letters and diaries and material of that nature don't form part of a terrorist offence," he said.

Following the ruling, Edney asked that Khadr have access to the seized items for the purpose of "legal review." This, he said, would give his client time to examine the materials in the same way as police and prepare a defence should charges be laid.

The judge ruled against the request.

Khadr and her mother, Maha, attended only the morning session of the daylong court proceeding. Both were dressed in hijabs with only their eyes left uncovered.

No charges have been laid against Khadr, who now lives in Toronto.

The Khadr family has admitted close links to al-Qaida leader <FORM class=yqin action=http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method=post>    Osama bin Laden and son Omar is Canada's only known detaineeat the U.S. camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. </FORM>

The RCMP declined to comment on the ruling.