Osama bin Laden is dead

PHUKET: The people of Phuket woke this morning to an announcement by US President Barack Obama that the world’s most-wanted terrorist, Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is dead.

He was killed by US forces on Sunday at a compound deep inside Pakistan, President Obama announced during a live nationwide television address at the White House last night (early this morning in Phuket).

The news comes nearly a decade after the attacks by Al Qaeda operatives on September 11, 2001.

President Obama said that he was informed of a report of bin Laden’s location in August last year.

Last week he sanctioned an operation to seize bin Laden from a compound about 40km from Islamabad, he said.

“After a firefight they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body,” he said.

“The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s efforts to defeat Al Qaeda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort.

“There is no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and will remain vigilant at home and abroad,” he said.

Mr Obama reaffirmed that the US was not at war with Islam.

“I’ve made clear just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11 that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was mass murderer of Muslims.”

“So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.”