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| He was killed by the US troops in a mansion outside Pakistani capital Islamabad. |
He was killed by the US troops in a mansion outside Pakistani capital Islamabad and his body has been recovered by US authorities.
US President Barack Obama confirmed Osama’s death in a hastily called, late-night appearance at the White House.
It is a major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team. Obama’s predecessor, George W Bush, had repeatedly vowed to bring to justice the mastermind of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, but never did before leaving office in early 2009.
US officials said that after searching in vain for the al Qaeda leader since he disappeared in Afghanistan in late 2001, the Saudi-born extremist is dead and his body recovered.
The death of the reviled US enemy sparked jubilation across the United States, with a huge crowd gathering outside the White House just before midnight, chanting “USA, USA” as Obama made a dramatic nationwide address to Americans.
Justice has been done
“Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children,” Obama said.
Obama said in the historic address from the White House that he had directed the US armed forces to launch an attack against a compound in Pakistan on Sunday acting on a lead that first emerged last August.
“A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties.
“After a firefight, they killed Osama bin laden and took custody of his body.”
“Justice has been done.”
Pakistani intelligence officials also confirmed bin Laden’s death. “Yes I can confirm that he was killed in a highly sensitive intelligence operation,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The official said he was unable to immediately confirm where, how or when Obama was killed.
Asked whether Pakistani intelligence participated in the operation he said only: “It was a highly sensitive intelligence operation.”
Cold trail
Osama had been the subject of a search since he eluded US soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains in 2001. The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan.
While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his militant Islamist views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway.
Besides Sept. 11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks — including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen.
- AFP/Reuters
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