Osama bin Laden killed

Osama bin Laden killed

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed in a US-led operation in Pakistan, President Barack Obama has announced.

"I can report to the American people and to the world, that the US has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden," he said at a hastily-organised news conference at the White House.

The US president said he was briefed about a possible lead to the whereabouts of the the world's most wanted man and mastermind of the September 11 attacks in August and last week organised an operation "to bring Bin Laden to justice".

Most wanted...It was not clear how long Osama had been staying at the house

It was not clear how long Osama had been staying at the compound.

Reuters quoted a US official as saying a son of Osama and two other adults were also killed in the raid.

Sky's US correspondent Robert Nisbet said: "We seem to be building a picture that this was very well thought through ... obviously the president was informed every step of the way.

"It appears to have happened a few days ago with final confirmation coming today."

Obama spoke to former president George W Bush and former President Bill Clinton before announcing Bin Laden's death.

Bush said it was a "momentous achievement".

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said in a statement.

Obama also warned that"al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks" against the US.

"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat Al-Qaeda. His death does not mark the end of our effort," he said.

The US state department issued a worldwide travel alert to all US citizens warning of an "enhanced potential" for US citizens to be ! targeted .
Source: news.sky.com

Published May 1 2011