As Americans reacted to the news of Osama bin Laden's killing by U.S. commandos, officials warned that the al-Qaida leader's death in a firefight in Pakistan does not remove the threat of terrorist attacks. Bin Laden's killing by American elite forces closes a chapter in the war on terrorism, but officials say the battle against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups will continue.
The successful raid in the Pakistan city, Abbotabad in the early hours Monday led President Obama to declare that "justice has been done." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a "watershed moment." But French President Nicolas Sarkozy cautioned that this is not the end of al-Qaida and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the fight will not end with bin Laden's death.
"Continued cooperation will be just as important in the days ahead, because even as we mark this milestone, we should not forget that the battle to stop al-Qaida and its syndicate of terror will not end with the death of bin Laden," Clinton said.
John Brennan, President Obama's assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, told reporters that the al-Qaida leader was "hiding in plain sight," and must have had help. Bin Laden was tracked to a compound in an affluent neighborhood about 50 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad, in an area heavy with Pakistani military and intelligence personnel.
Brennan told reporters Monday that al-Qaida is damaged but remains dangerous. He adds that it is out of step with events in the Muslim world.
The successful operation comes just months before the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington of September 11, 2001. In the 10 years since then, government buildings in the United States have had security upgrades.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying it would not issue an alert because of bin Laden's death, but said the agency remains at a heightened state of vigilance.
Local officials around the country echoed the comments coming from Washington. Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck called the day of bin Laden's death a great day for America, but issued a caveat.
"While we savor that victory, we have to be ever mindful that taking away the leader does not remove the organization," Beck said. "We still face significant threats and, while there are no specific threats to Los Angeles, the general threat (is there) and my obligation is to keep this city safe."
Los Angeles resident Margaret Gray drove to the airport to drop off her daughter, who was flying to Chicago, and Gray was pleased to see added security.
"There is a security stop on the way in and he needs to check in the back of my truck. I mean, he just peaked in the window, but he was so positive and ended up saying 'Have a great day.' It's not like extreme measures or anything, so I feel good that they want to stay on top of things and they're trying to be alert and ready," Gray said.
Analyst Robert Guttman of Johns Hopkins University says the heightened vigilance will continue in major cities in the United States and elsewhere.
"It's not over. I think it's going to be a heightened security all around the United States - especially in New York, Washington and London," Guttman said.
A number of key al-Qaida figures have been killed or captured, but others remain at large, including Ayman a-Zarahiri, Osama bin Laden's deputy.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was not a joint operation with his country, but stresses that a decade of cooperation with the United States led to the elimination of a "threat to the civilized world."
In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post, Zardari addressed criticism that suggested Pakistan was not aggressively pursuing terrorists, and said his country is perhaps the greatest victim of terrorism.
He said Pakistan takes satisfaction in helping to identify an al-Qaida courier who U.S. officials said helped lead them to bin Laden.
Zardari also said that following bin Laden's death, the war against those who target innocent people has not been won, but the beginning of the end is in sight.
In Pakistan, where U.S. forces found and killed the world's most wanted terrorist, the news shocked many residents and the government was slow to comment.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement late Monday calling bin Laden's death a major setback for terrorist groups around the world. It acknowledged that U.S. forces carried out the mission inside Pakistani territory, but did not say what role Pakistan played in the operation.
The ministry also noted that al-Qaida had declared war on Pakistan and said the country will continue to support international efforts against terrorism.
Some people are angry at the United States for conducting a mission inside Pakistan. Others expressed concern that because bin Laden was found inside Pakistan, and in the same city as the country's elite military academy, the rest of the world could blame their country for knowingly harboring terrorists.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
U.S. officials and security analysts are warning that the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden will likely lead the terrorist organization to try to retaliate with violence against American and other targets.
The killing of bin Laden comes nearly a decade after the catastrophic attacks by al-Qaida terrorists on the United States September 11, 2001.
A team of U.S. commandos carried out the operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, an affluent area not far from the capital, Islamabad.
The U.S. State Department quickly issued a worldwide travel alert, saying the killing could trigger anti-American violence.
U.S. officials stressed bin Laden's death will not end the fight against terror.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "Continued cooperation will be just as important in the days ahead, because even as we mark this milestone, we should not forget that the battle to stop al-Qaida and its syndicate of terror will not end with the death of bin Laden."
Since the 2001 attacks, security has been significantly strengthened at government office buildings and many other locations.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying it would not issue an alert due to bin Laden's death, but said the agency remains at a heightened state of vigilance.
Riders on Washington's subway system noticed more uniformed officers patrolling the stations.
At the main international airport in Los Angeles, officials said they have not received any direct terrorist threat as the result of bin Laden's death, but will continue to provide high visibility law enforcement and security protection for passengers.
Analyst Robert Guttman with Johns Hopkins University said, "It's not over. I think it's going to be a heightened security all around the United States, especially in New York, Washington and London."
Analysts say bin Laden in recent years had been relegated to a largely symbolic role with al-Qaida, and affiliated groups around the world represent the primary threat to Americans at home and overseas.
Richard Weitz is a senior analyst at the Hudson Institute. "We are all aware that initially it is going to be worse because we're going to get some sort of retaliation, if they can do it," he said.
U.S. President Barack Obama says bin Laden's death will make the world a safer place, but had this warning about the future. "There is no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad," he said.
Experts say while a devastating attack like 9/11 is less likely now, the threat is more complex and diverse than at any time in the past decade.
Two people are reported dead from a tornado that struck parts of Auckland, New Zealand Tuesday.
Authorities say the storm had winds of 200 kilometers an hour, and left a trail of damage at least five kilometers long as it moved across Albany, a suburb of New Zealand's largest city. Dozens of cars were tossed about and flipped over, trees were uprooted, and the roof was torn off a major shopping mall.
As many as 20 people have reportedly been injured. The Auckland city council has activated its emergency center to coordinate the response and relief efforts.
New Zealand has sustained a number of disasters over the last several months, including a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February, which killed 181 people and caused about $11 billion in damage.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
The U.S. Special Forces operation that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was the result of years of work to integrate intelligence and military capabilities, as well as painstaking investigation and analysis, much of it inspired by the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
In the middle of the night, elite U.S. military commandos, perhaps accompanied by CIA operatives, descended from helicopters on a compound in a Pakistani city. U.S. officials say they fought their way from building to building, killing three men and a woman who was used as a human shield, before reaching the top floor of the compound's main building. There, they found another woman and a man - the target of their operation - Osama bin Laden.
Officials say bin Laden resisted and was shot and killed by U.S. troops. The woman, who is believed to be one of his wives, was wounded. The troops then took bin Laden's body, destroyed one of their helicopters, which had malfunctioned, and left. No U.S. troops and no civilians outside of the compound were injured, and the operation ended within 40 minutes, before Pakistani security forces could respond.
"It just makes you really impressed," said Michael O'Hanlon, an analyst at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "Obviously, some of these problems we had a high level planning in previous decades have been corrected. We've learned the lessons at higher levels of command about how you prepare for these sorts of things."
O'Hanlon is referring to past U.S. operations that failed, including the effort to rescue U.S. hostages in Iran in 1980.
Intelligence expert Michael Swetnam of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies says the U.S. government dedicated itself to developing a coordinated military and intelligence capability after the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
"The close training and operational relationship between the CIA and the special forces units in the military built an operational, covert, clandestine capability that could do what you saw happen over the last day. This really is the very best of the very best, the elite of the elite, if you will. And to pull something like this off really does take lots of practice, lots of training, and some of the very best that this country has to offer," he said.
Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General James Dubik, who started his long career as a Special Forces officer and later rose to senior command positions, says the Special Forces provide more than raw military power to a commander. "First, [is] their incredible proficiency. Second, they bring to bear an incredible amount of intelligence analysis. This is fastidious, detailed, but very important work. And the third, they have an array of transportation and fire support assets that give them operational maneuverability over large, large areas under highly stealthful conditions," he said.
That is how the force managed to fly undetected, apparently about 150 kilometers from a base in Afghanistan to the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.
But the operation that sounds like a scene from a Hollywood movie would not have happened without the detailed and difficult job of analyzing vast amounts of information to find a few significant facts, and then to follow those leads and confirm them. That is the so-called "connect the dots" capability that experts said did not exist in 2001 when al-Qaida attacked the United States.
Officials say some of the information came from long-term detainees like those at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility.
Again, Michael Swetnam of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. "This is a great example of how detainees, the people we've been questioning, have given us information that allowed us to be successful. And the value of what they've given us in information will go on for years and years and years to come," he said.
At the Brookings Institution, Michael O'Hanlon says those ongoing interrogations, along with other information and the analysis that follows, overcame bin Laden's efforts to avoid detection by more high-technology means. "Bin Laden was very good at hiding and very good at going silent in terms of any and all electronic transmissions, once he realized just how capable we are of tracking those kinds of devices. And so to find him anyway, even if it took a decade, is really a quite notable accomplishment," he said.
Still, the experts agree that although the successful attack on Osama bin Laden is important, it is not the end of the U.S.-led war on al-Qaida and related groups. Experts note that terrorist cells have become more autonomous in recent years, and they say more detailed intelligence work, and perhaps more dramatic Special Forces raids, lie ahead.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
While many Americans are celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, others worry about his continuing role as an inspiration for terrorists and hate groups. Two experts, who study bin Laden's role as a symbol, say the terrorist leader might be gone but is not forgotten.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, directs a project that studies Internet hate groups. He says the center has seen increased chatter, or discussion, by militants in recent hours. Related video report by Carolyn Pressutti
"First, disbelief -- some talk of a conspiracy. But by and large, expressions of grief and anger. And I am sure that in the coming hours and days, that chatter will then turn to revenge, what we do to get back at the enemy," said Cooper.
Other scholars are looking more closely at Osama bin Laden to understand the development of his ideas and to assess the extent of his influence. During the past decade, al-Qaida has released a series of well publicized audio tapes. But a California scholar is tracing the development of bin Laden's earlier thinking through audio tapes found in the terrorist leader's library in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2001.
More than 1,500 tapes were acquired by CNN television and are now held by Yale University. Twenty-two recordings were of bin Laden, mostly public addresses in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries. Most of the other tapes are public addresses by other Muslim leaders or thinkers.
Religion scholar Flagg Miller at the University of California, Davis says the tapes reflect debates within bin Laden's inner circle over the role of violence, especially against Muslims and non-combatants, as the terrorist leader crafted a militant message and tried to win followers.
The only tape published so far was recorded in 1996, and contains bin Laden's declaration of war against the United States. Flagg Miller calls it an audacious attempt to mobilize the loosely-knit jihadist movement.
"He was kicked out of Saudi Arabia. He was exiled from Sudan under U.S. pressure. So in the late summer of 1996, he makes this statement declaring war against the United States. It's an outlandish statement because he has no political party, he has no movement, he's been stripped of his money," Miller said.
Miller says bin Laden was not a scholar, but that the al-Qaida leader artfully blended preaching and poetry, and tapped traditional Muslim themes as he urged war against the West.
"Once that message that the U.S. was the prime enemy became apparent and foregrounded in his speeches, he would lose broader audiences who felt like he was not paying enough attention to regional issues, including the Palestinians and so forth. But he would gain very hard-core militants who shared his vision," Miller said.
Miller says bin Laden's early speeches show a patient recruitment effort as he urged followers to shift their attention from regional problems, such as bad government in the Muslim world, to what he described as a cosmic struggle. Miller says bin Laden underwent the same shift in his own thinking and rhetoric.
Al-Qaida now has a sophisticated Internet presence to promote bin Laden's thinking. But Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center says other online sites are also dangerous. He notes that the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki uses high tech communications to urge acts of violence, and that al-Awlaki has been successful in recruiting so-called lone wolves.
"The Fort Hood shooter, Jihad Jane, the thwarted SUV New Year's Eve attack in New York -- all of those had links to this man by way of email. So you have the use of the Internet to promote people to stay off the grid, make it more difficult for intelligence and law enforcement to even identify potential problems," Cooper said.
Cooper says law enforcement officials and political leaders need to assess the extent of the problem.
Flagg Miller warns that the importance of martyrdom for radical jihadists means that bin Laden will continue to have influence as a symbol despite his death. Still, he says, the loss of al-Qaida's charismatic leader is a major blow for the terror network.
Rabbi Cooper says the way that bin Laden met his demise in a face-to-face confrontation adds a measure of justice for his victims. But Cooper cautions that U.S. leaders need to assess the ongoing risk from others who are inspired by Osama bin Laden.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
President Barack Obama's top counter-terrorism official says U.S. forces would have taken Osama bin Laden alive if they had the chance.
John Brennan told reporters at the White House Monday the U.S. team that conducted the raid on the compound in Pakistan would have taken bin Laden alive if he did not pose a threat to them.
Bin Laden was killed in a firefight with the U.S. forces, who swooped down in helicopters in the nighttime operation in Abbottabad, about 56 kilometers north of the capital, Islamabad.
Brennan described the death as a "strategic blow" to al-Qaida.
He said officials monitored the raid from the White House as it was happening, and he described it as an anxiety-filled time. He said the U.S. did not know with certainty that bin Laden was in the compound.
Brennan said U.S. authorities did not inform Pakistan of the operation until after U.S. forces were out of Pakistani airspace. He said a tense moment during the raid came when one of the helicopters was disabled.
He also refused to speculate on what kind of support bin Laden may have had in Pakistan.
The Obama administration says the raid lasted less than 40 minutes.
In a briefing early Monday, an official said the "extraordinarily unique" compound had two security gates, 3-5-meter-high walls topped with barbed wire, and a third floor terrace with a 2-meter-tall privacy wall.
A diagram of the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed - Courtesy U.S. Department of Defense
An official said the home was more than eight times larger than others in the area, had no telephone or Internet, and the residents burned their trash rather than putting it out for pickup. The official said the estimated value of the home was about $1 million.
U.S. intelligence officials concluded that a "high value target" was staying at the home of two brothers who had "no explainable source of wealth."
According to officials, bin Laden resisted the assault and was killed in a firefight, along with two of his couriers and one son. A woman, believed to be one of bin Laden's wives and who was used as a human shield, was killed and two other women were injured.
One of the American helicopters had to be destroyed because it experienced mechanical failure.
Local residents, awakened by the raid, said they had no idea bin Laden was staying at the compound. Residents said they heard gunshots and watched from rooftops as flames leapt from the compound. The area was later blocked off by Pakistani forces.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday U.S.-Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation "helped lead" to the discovery of Osama bin Laden's hideout near Islamabad. She is non-committal about whether the $25 million U.S. reward for finding bin Laden will be paid.
Obama administration officials are not saying if Pakistani authorities were aware in advance of the U.S. raid near Islamabad Sunday that killed bin Laden, but Clinton said Pakistani cooperation helped locate the al-Qaida leader's hiding place.
The circumstances of bin Laden's death have raised questions about whether Pakistani military and intelligence officials knew about bin Laden's whereabouts, and whether they had shared information with the United States.
Asked about the issue at a press event here with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Clinton provided no details but stressed the value of Pakistani anti-terrorism support.
"Our counter-terrorism cooperation over a number of years now, with Pakistan, has contributed greatly to our efforts to dismantle al-Qaida," said Clinton. "And in fact, cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound in which we was hiding. Going forward, we are absolutely committed to continuing that cooperation."
The State Department had offered a $25 million reward for information leading to bin Laden's apprehension.
Clinton said while bin Laden's name has been removed from the "active list" of the department's "Rewards for Justice" program, she could not comment on whether anyone has been nominated for the reward for bin Laden or any other wanted person.
Rudd, whose country lost nearly 100 citizens in bombings by al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists in the Indonesian resort of Bali in 2002, hailed the U.S. special forces operation that killed bin Laden.
He said the death would not hasten the end of his country's combat role in Afghanistan, where Australia is the largest non-NATO troop contributor.
"In terms of our mission in Afghanistan, the answer is without reservation 'no,' said Rudd. "That is, we will stay the course in Afghanistan until our mission is complete."
Earlier in a statement on the death of bin Laden, Clinton reiterated the U.S. call on the Taliban to break with al-Qaida, end its insurgency, and join in a political process with the Kabul government.
"Our message to the Taliban remains the same, but today it may have greater resonance. You cannot wait us out. You cannot defeat us. But you can make the choice to abandon al-Qaida and participate in a peaceful political process."
Clinton said there is no better rebuke to al-Qaida and its "heinous" ideology than the protest movements across the Middle East by democracy activists she said reject "extremist narratives" and are seeking progress based on universal rights.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
The day after U.S. forces killed terror network leader Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama said it is a good day for America. And, the president's top counterterrorism adviser briefed reporters on Monday about the details of the operation that killed bin Laden.
President Obama said the killing of the al-Qaida founder shows what Americans can do when they work together.
"I think we can all agree this is a good day for America," he said. "Our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. The world is safer. It is a better place because of the death of Osama bin Laden."
At a ceremony recognizing the heroism of two U.S. soldiers during the Korean War, Mr. Obama said he could not be more proud of the troops who carried out Sunday's raid on bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.
<!--IMAGE-->
Later in the day, John Brennan, the president's assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, told reporters that U.S. forces were prepared to take bin Laden alive, if possible. But he said that possibility was remote, and that bin Laden was killed in a firefight at his compound.
Brennan said the al-Qaida leader was "hiding in plain sight," and must have had help.
"I think it is inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for an extended period of time," he said. "I am not going to speculate about what type of support he might have had on an official basis."
Brennan said U.S. intelligence officials are talking with their Pakistani counterparts, whose cooperation, he said, is crucial to rounding up more terrorists.
The president's counterterrorism adviser said Pakistan has captured and killed more terrorists within its borders than any other country.
Brennan said Sunday's gathering of the president and his top advisers in the White House Situation Room to monitor the progress of the operation was tense. He said there was some disagreement among the advisers on how to proceed.
"It was probably one of the most anxiety-filled periods of time, I think, in the lives of the people who were assembled here yesterday," he said. "The minutes passed like days."
According to Brennan, the tension increased when a helicopter malfunctioned, but he said there was a sigh of relief when word came that Osama bin Laden had been killed. He said President Obama's response was, "We got him."
Brennan said the circumstances surrounding bin Laden's death reveal his hypocrisy.
"Here is bin Laden, who has been calling for these attacks, living in this million-dollar-plus compound, living in an area that is far removed from the front, hiding behind women who were put in front of him as a shield," he said. "I think it really just speaks just how false his narrative has been over the years."
Brennan told reporters that al-Qaida has been damaged but remains dangerous, like a fatally wounded tiger.
"There is always the potential for terrorist groups to try to strike out and avenge an operation like this," he said. "But also, I think, some of them are asking themselves, 'Bin Laden is dead, the al-Qaida narrative is becoming increasingly bankrupt.' There is a new wave sweeping through the Middle East right now that puts a premium on individual rights and freedom and dignity."
Brennan said Pakistani authorities were not notified before the operation. And as a result, some Pakistani fighter jets were scrambled. But he said there was no engagement with U.S. forces.
The adviser said U.S. officials are 99.9 percent sure that the man they killed was Osama bin Laden, and that that confidence increased over time.
Brennan said bin Laden's body was buried at sea on Monday. He said a place for a land burial could not be found in time to comply with Islamic custom.
John Brennan called the killing of Osama bin Laden a strategic blow to al-Qaida, but not a fatal blow. He said President Obama's decision to proceed with the mission was "one of the gutsiest calls of any president in recent memory."
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
U.S. President Barack Obama was preparing to announce Osama bin Laden was dead when word got out and crowds started gathering late Sunday outside the White House in Washington and at Ground Zero in New York City.
From Times Square to Ground Zero to the White House, the familiar chant of "USA , USA" resonated as citizens learned that the Osama bin Laden was dead.
The announcement sparked immediate jubilation. In Time Square, people gathered around giant news tickers to see the latest updates. Pam Sather recalls the moment she heard the world's most wanted terrorist was dead.
"It is just amazing, we were just walking out of a pizza joint," she said. "And, all the sudden we saw in the bar on the television. We were just glued."
At the White House, young Americans climbed trees, climbed light posts, donned American flags and sang the national anthem.
The feeling was euphoric as thousands of Americans gathered in front of the White House just hours after U.S. President Barack Obama made the announcement that Osama bin Laden was dead.
For many, including student Kathryn Costello, it became a moment of reflection, thinking back to the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, an act of terror Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for.
"I think a lot of us have grown up with the memory of 9/11 and sort of this constant notion of a threat and the danger of terrorism," said Costello. "So this is a triumphant moment for all of us."
For many U.S. soldiers, including U.S. Marine Jake Diliberto, this is a day they have been fighting for.
"We feel really really vindicated that we finally got him," he said. "This is our generation's VE, VJ. This is our generation's victory and enduring freedom day."
Patriotism filled the air outside the White House into the early hours Monday.
Two hours after the announcement, with celebrations still roaring, the U.S. Secret Service brought in barriers to push back revelers from the White House. Related video report by Peter Fedynsky
International student Sunny Shih said the importance of the historical moment reaches beyond the gates of the White House.
"This is a very important moment for not only the U.S.A., but for the entire world," said Shih.
Many world leaders are praising the achievement of U.S. military forces Sunday in Pakistan, who killed Osama bin Laden, captured his body and buried it at sea. But they are cautioning bin Laden's death elevates security risks around the world.
Back at the White House, the focus remains on the justice the president said was delivered.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
In Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, many people voiced support for the U.S. operation that killed Osama bin Laden
Although Indonesia is home to a variety of militant Islamic organizations that have carried out attacks against Western targets, the country has a history of religious diversity and moderation.
So it is not surprising that Darma Widjaya, like many of the Muslims who came to midday prayers at the Sunda Kelapa mosque in Jakarta Monday expressed no sympathy upon hearing of the death of Osama bin Laden.
He says it is quite good for the entire world, because bin Laden is a terrorist.
Another mosque visitor who was leaving morning prayers, Dadang Solihin, said he hopes that the death of the man responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York and Washington, D.C., will make the world a safer place.
"It is a good thing. Maybe it is a time for people to, I mean for the situation in the world to be cooling down," said Solihin.
Sitting at a lunch cart outside the mosque, Ellen Sitorus says Bin Laden's death is good news for Indonesia's fight against terrorism.
She says when she heard that bin Ladin was killed, she was very happy because the number of terrorists like those that haunt Indonesia is decreasing.
There are small groups of radical Muslims in Indonesia that have been affiliated or influenced by bin Laden. These groups continue to advocate and execute violent attacks against westerners and urge assassinations against government officials and moderate Muslim Indonesian leaders.
The Indonesian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah, which wants to establish an Islamic state in Southeast Asia, is reported have ties to bin Laden's Al Qaida terror network. The group has been involved in several terrorist attacks in recent years, including the 2002 Bali Bombing that killed more than 200 people. In 2010, a new terrorist group that called itself Al Qaida in Aceh was discovered operating a training camp in Sumatra.
Azyumardi Azra, a professor of history at the State Islamic University, says news of Bin Laden's death could incite these militant groups to retaliate.
"I think the death of Osama bin Laden would revive the resentment and also hatred against the U.S., so I think particularly with the show of joy in a number of cities in the West," he said. "Particularly in the U.S."
He says, although anti-American sentiment will likely increase within radical circles, most Indonesians remain supportive of the U.S. military action taken to kill Osama Bin Laden.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
European leaders from Russia to Britain have hailed the death of Osama bin Laden as a major achievement in efforts to rid the world of terrorism.
Swift reaction
Europe was swift to react to President Barack Obama's announcement that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is dead.
In a statement Monday, the leaders of the European Council and European Commission said bin Laden's death made the world a safer place and showed that terrorist attacks do not remain unpunished.
Bin Laden's al-Qaida network led or inspired attacks around the world since 1993, killing at least 4,000 people.
British Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama for the success of the Navy Seal operation that killed the terrorist leader in the Pakistan city of Abbottabad. He described the death of bin Laden as a massive step forward in the fight against extremist terrorism. "Of course, it does not mark the end of the threat we face from extremist terror. Indeed, we will have to be particularly vigilant in the weeks ahead," said Cameron. "But it is, I believe, a massive step forward."
Watch a related report by Henry Ridgwell
Message to terrorists
<!--IMAGE-->
Russia, Germany, Italy and France also applauded U.S. forces for killing bin Laden. But many, like French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, also offered a note of caution.
In remarks on French radio, Juppe said the world must be more vigilant than ever. He noted the bombing attack in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh just a few days ago that killed at least 14 people.
While bin Laden has been most spectacularly linked to the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, al-Qaida is also blamed for the 2004 train bombings in Spain that killed 191 people. The network also claimed credit for the 2005 bombings in London that killed 52 people.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also welcomed the announcement, saying the world had been awaiting the news of bin Laden's death for 10 years -- since the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States that left some 3,000 people dead in a matter of hours.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel described it as a victory for the forces of peace in the world. But she echoed many European leaders' concerns by adding that bin Laden's killing by U.S. forces in Pakistan Sunday night did not mean that terrorist attacks would come to an end.
A statement released by the Kremlin in Russia, which is combating religious militants in the Caucasus, said that retribution inevitably reaches all terrorists and that Russia is ready to "step up" its coordination in the international fight against global terrorism.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who has been battling militant Kurdish separatists, said bin Laden's demise sent a message to terrorist organizations around the world.
Vigilance recommended
<!--IMAGE-->
Disaffected youth in Europe have headed to terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Chechnya, and al-Qaida's disparate branches have kidnapped Europeans overseas and warned Europe of more attacks to come.
"Although this is seen as a victory for many in the United States, it is one that is also shared by many here in Europe," said Maha Azzam, a Middle East analyst for the London-based think-tank Chatham House. "The specter of terrorism from al-Qaida has existed for a decade now in Europe and therefore the removal of this very important symbol is seen as an important step to undermining al Qaida."
French analyst Philippe Moreau Defarges believes bin Laden was a man of the past, who was unable to make a difference politically. He says that can be seen with the current Arab protests, in which al-Qaida appears largely marginalized.
"... but we still have a lot of frustrated people, we still have a lot of bitter people, and one way to be heard, one way to make some noise, is to use terrorism," he said.
For its part, France-based international police agency Interpol urged greater vigilance in dealing with a heightened terrorism risk as a result of bin-Laden's death.
Based in France, Interpol is the world's largest international police organization, with 188 member countries.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Syria's state news agency said on Monday that security forces have arrested nearly 500 people and killed 10 others.
Witnesses in the flashpoint southern city, Daraa, said troops backed by armored vehicles roamed the streets in a continuing push to crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad.
Residents in Daraa said Syrian security forces detained males15-years-of-age and older and sealed off neighborhoods. A government spokesman said troops had killed 10 "terrorists."
Reports say troops are targeting prominent lawyers and activists in Daraa, which has been the center of Syria's six-week uprising.
Fuel, water, power and communications have been severely disrupted in Daraa for six days. Food is said to be scarce.
Rights groups say at least 560 civilians have been killed in the country-wide unrest in Syria.
Meanwhile, state media said Monday that the Interior Ministry issued a statement calling on people who committed illegal acts to turn themselves in by May 15.
It says those who go to authorities and turn in their weapons will be exempted from punishment.
Nearly all foreign media have been banned from Syria, making it almost impossible to independently confirm reports.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Libyan crowds on Monday mourned at the funeral of leader Moammar Gadhafi's son, while pro-government forces launched new attacks on the western city of Misrata.
Crowds gathered in the capital, Tripoli, chanting support for Gadhafi, whose son and three grandchildren were killed over the weekend, allegedly in a NATO air strike.
Hundreds, some carrying flags and pictures of Gadhafi, watched as the body of Seif al-Arab Gadhafi was taken from an ambulance and carried to the Al-Hani cemetery.
Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the 29-year-old Gadhafi and three of his children were killed late Saturday in what Ibrahim called a direct attempt to assassinate the Libyan leader in a missile strike. The deaths have not been independently confirmed.
On Sunday, the Italian and British embassies in Tripoli were attacked in apparent retaliation.
On Monday, Turkey said it was evacuating staff from its embassy following Sunday's attacks. It was one of the few embassies kept open.
Most western countries had closed their Tripoli embassies and evacuated their staffs before the NATO military intervention began several weeks ago.
Meanwhile, pro-government tanks launched shells on the besieged city of Misrata, continuing attacks on the city's battered port area.
The rocket and shellfire for a third day at the port is preventing international aid ships from reaching the city that is controlled by rebels but surrounded by government forces.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Unrest has left one demonstrator dead in Yemen's south after the unraveling of a deal that would have eased Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power.
Officials say the army opened fired on protesters in the port city of Aden Monday, killing one demonstrator.
Activists and medics say at least two protesters were killed in Aden Saturday as security forces moved in to clear a square they had occupied. They are demanding the immediate removal of Mr. Saleh from office.
At least 140 people have died in the unrest since January.
Meanwhile, Gulf officials said Sunday they are sending a top official back to Yemen to try to salvage the deal after Mr. Saleh refused to sign the agreement.
Officials with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which sponsored the accord, said the deal's signing ceremony had been postponed indefinitely.
They said Mr. Saleh had agreed to sign the deal as leader of the ruling General People's Congress party but not in his capacity as president - as required by the deal.
The Yemeni president had been expected to sign in advance of a formal ceremony in Riyadh planned for Sunday or Monday.
The GCC plan called for President Saleh to hand over power to a deputy and resign within 30 days of signing the initiative. It would establish a unity government that would include opposition members. A presidential election would take place two months after Mr. Saleh leaves office.
Both the opposition and Mr. Saleh said last week that they agreed to the deal.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Senior Indian offcials reacted with "grave concern" Monday to the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in a U.S. operation in Pakistan, saying the news confirms that Pakistan continues to shelter terrorists.
India's foreign minister welcomed the news of bin Laden's death as a "victorious milestone" in the war against terrorism. However, the statement from S.M. Krishna said the world must press on to "eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighborhood."
India has long been concerned about terrorist threats originating in Pakistan and Indian security forces have been put on high alert for possible reprisal attacks following bin Laden's death.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in a statement, that bin Laden's hideout located deep inside Pakistan underlines India's concern that the country is a sanctuary for "terrorists belonging to different organizations."
Bharat Karnad, with Delhi's Centre for Policy Research, has advised the government for years on national security policy. He says nobody should be shocked that Bin Laden was found a few hours' drive from Islamabad.
"It's not exactly a revelation, says Karnad. "Everyone knew about this, as much in Washington as in Delhi. The question was, really, what would it take for the U.S. to act on the information," he says.
U.S. officials had suspected that bin Laden was hiding in the rugged border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karnad says Indian intelligence officials had long tried to convince the United States that bin Laden was in Pakistan, rather than Afghanistan. But he complains U.S. officials delayed taking action.
"They didn't follow through on what was said. Or, they tried to act as if though they didn't know what the Indians were talking about. Because our intelligence penetration of Pakistan is pretty good. I think it's pretty damn good." says Karnad.
Indian officials have pressed Pakistan for years to hunt down the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The Indian home minister Monday released a statement that repeated India's long-held assertion that the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks continue to be sheltered in Pakistan.
Security analyst Karnad also brushed aside Pakistan's assertions it did not know bin Laden's location.
"If you have a presence of this kind, it's not possible - it's simply not plausible - that the Pakistan army won't know about it," Karnad says. "If it knew about it, then it's reasonable to assume that they are part of the protection or the cover being provided by the Pakistan army."
Many Indians see bin Laden's killing as vindication of their basic distrust of Pakistan. Still, recent attempts at boosting diplomatic dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are widely expected to continue.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
As many nations around the world hailed the death of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces, the mood in Pakistan was subdued. Across the border there was a more positive reaction from ordinary Afghans.
The Pakistan government was slow in breaking its silence following the demise of the world's most-wanted man.
It was not until late in the day when the foreign ministry released a comment saying U.S. forces carried out the mission.
About two hours later, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani said, "I think it's a great victory, it's a success."
Because bin Laden was found deep inside Pakistan just a few hundred meters from Pakistan's military academy, some Pakistani's now fear their country could be blamed for knowingly harboring terrorists by the rest of the world.
At Islamabad's Quaid-i-Azam University, student Faisal Naveed says he is concerned. "The Americans attacked and killed bin Laden in such a sensitive location," he says "which will raise questions about why the Pakistani military didn't do anything and why they weren't aware of it. It will be suggested that they did know and didn't do anything on purpose," he said.
A female student who did not give her name agreed. "Since 9/11 the USA has been saying that Pakistan is a base for terrorist," she said. "With this attack it provides evidence that it is true and it will have a bad effect for Pakistan."
Today there is also a sense of anxiety in Pakistan about whether militants will retaliate and ordinary Pakistanis will suffer the consequences.
Across the border in Afghanistan, the reaction was more positive.
One man told VOA's Afghan service the death of bin Laden is good news for Afghanistan, and the rest of the world because of the misery al-Qaida has caused for more than a decade in Afghanistan.
For most Afghans, though, bin Laden's death will have little impact on their daily lives. One student told VOA what is really needed is an end to the war. "We are happy he is killed, but we also want peace," he said.
He says he hopes the death of bin Laden will bring peace closer.
Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
In Yemen, where the offshoot al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has taken root, government officials hailed the news as a turning point in the fight against terrorism. So, too, did many ordinary Yemenis.
Sanaa resident Mortada Abed Al Qader said bin Laden was connected with many wrongdoings against Islam, and that his death "was right."
Similar expressions of relief were heard from leaders and citizens around the region.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the action shows that terrorists, in the end, are caught whether dead or alive.
In Israel, where the government was a key target of bin Laden's wrath, leaders expressed joy at the news. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a resounding victory for justice. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, however, condemned the killing calling bin Laden an "Arab holy warrior."
Another target, Saudi Arabia, bin Laden's birthplace and the country that stripped him of citizenship in 1991, has yet to make a formal statement. The Saudi government has spent years fending off terror attacks and trying to rehabilitate followers of the al-Qaida leader.
Robert Powell of The Economist Intelligence Unit discusses possible Middle East regional implications of Osama bin Laden's death in an interview with Susan Yackee:
Bin Laden's legacy in the region has been a handful of small but deadly groups inspired by his terrorist tactics and his fight against all things considered un-Islamic.
A younger generation has taken those ideas and spread them, largely independently, attracting supporters in a diffuse network around the world. One of bin Laden's followers in Yemen vowed his death only increase devotion to his cause.
Al Qaida supporter Mohammed Alwatari said if bin Laden is really dead, "a thousand Osama bin Ladens will appear - god willing."
On the streets of Cairo, resident Mohamed Rashad said that continuing violence in places like Morocco show that al-Qaida might still be active in the region.
He says al-Qaida is not one person, and although bin Laden is dead, the popularity of his group in several Arab countries continues.
But for everyone who looked to bin Laden for symbolic or spiritual leadership, there were plenty of others horrified by al-Qaida's definition of infidels. In Iraq, which saw some of the worst sectarian violence carried out under the banner of a local al-Qaida group, there was optimism at news that bin Laden was dead, even as a bomb exploded in a Shi'ite neighborhood of Baghdad shortly hours after the announcement.
Baghdad resident Abdul Zahra Muttar said al-Qaida helped defame the true picture of Islam and has caused great harm to Muslim people both in Iraq and around the world.
But perhaps the most notable regional aspect to bin Laden's death may be its irrelevance. The al-Qaida chief's violent and puritanical vision of Islam has been virtually invisible in the wave of popular protests shaking up the Arab world. Said Sadek is a political science professor at the American University in Cairo.
"The current Arab democratic revolution - movements - are mainly led by youngsters, middle-class, urban and they do not want a theocracy," said Sadek. "Their slogans are very clear they want a civilian state, democratic state, accountable state. So bin Laden was not a popular figure or someone with an idea about reform or a state."
Sadek argues that in addition to the revulsion many Muslims felt toward bin Laden's brand of Islam, the al-Qaida leader caused burdens on a more mundane level.
"He had been responsible for tightening entry visas for many Arab students, Arab investors and average citizens," Sadek said. "So a lot suffered from what he did. I do not think anybody is going to wear a T-shirt carrying the image of bin Laden like we have seen with [Argentinian revolutionary] Che Guevara, for example."
The professor notes that even Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, a group which shares common roots in political Islam, has long renounced militant Islam, and has not condemned the killing. Sadek believes that only a very small, marginal group that hates the West and the moderate approach to politics will feel "orphaned" by bin Laden's death.
Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Freedom House, a U.S.-based group that monitors human rights around the world says the number of people with access to free and independent media has declined to its lowest level in more than a decade. In its newly released annual survey, the group says several key countries saw significant declines last year and that only one-in-six people live in countries with a press designated as free.
In this year's annual index of global media freedom of 196 countries and territories, Freedom House says it rated 68 as "free" and the remaining two thirds as "partly free" or "not free."
Freedom House Senior Editor Karin Karlekar says this is roughly an even breakdown, but a closer look reveals a different picture. "If you look at the population statistics, they are much bleaker, only 15 percent of the world's inhabitants or one in six live in countries with a free press, while 42 percent have a partly free press and 43 percent, the majority, are in a not-free press," she said.
Karlekar made her remarks at a conference at the Newseum - a journalism history museum in Washington D.C. - to mark World Press Freedom Day. She says looking back at the three decades Freedom House has been monitoring global media freedoms, there have been considerable improvements, as well as what she says are recent worrying declines. "In terms of overall trends, what we see is, as overt control over and censorship of the print and the broadcast media have lessened, other methods of influence have been applied. And this is from legal and regulatory harassment to intimidation and outright physical attacks on journalists," she said.
The status of press freedom around the world - Courtesy of Freedom House
Freedom House says Egypt, Honduras, Hungary, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and Ukraine were among those countries that saw significant declines.
Violence in Mexico brought on by problems with drug trafficking and an ongoing drug war, the group says, led to a dramatic increase in attacks on journalists, rising levels of self-censorship and impunity.
The group says a severe crackdown prior to Egypt's parliamentary elections last November saw the country's rating slip to not free. Smaller setbacks were also seen in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Morocco and Yemen.
Karlekar says that recent events in the Middle East and North Africa could help reverse the global trend and bring more positive upward movement in the next survey. "We are hoping that next year, there will be more positive movement. That the movements in the Middle East and the revolutions of early 2011 give us hope that perhaps this trend of decline that we have seen in the last eight years may be coming to an end," she said.
The survey also notes that repressive governments have stepped up efforts to control new means of communication, such as satellite television, the Internet and mobile telephones.
The report says satellite television was blocked in Egypt and Iran. The social networking website Facebook was briefly blocked in Pakistan in 2010 and remained unavailable in China, Syria and Vietnam last year.
South Korea was moved from free to partly free and Thailand slipped from partly free to not free following an increase in efforts in both countries to censor online content.
U.N. investigator for freedom of opinion and expression Frank LaRue says many politicians are panicking because they believe the Internet poses a threat as a multi-active, interactive form of communication. "We find that censorship is growing again. Sometimes with old forms of criminalizing. The crime of defamation, which has been in the legislature of many countries, but dormant for a long time, is now being revived. South Korea was put under a new status in the report of Freedom House precisely because the Internet is being sanctioned, bloggers are being criticized," he said.
Freedom House says additional pressure on the media in politically turbulent Thailand led to its decline.
Karlekar says that for the most part, levels of Internet freedom and press freedom are roughly the same among good and bad performers. "In countries like China and Iran, which are very repressive, they have repressive media environments and also Internet and digital media environments. What we see, however, in the [ranking of countries and territories] is that there are significant gaps between Internet and press freedom, where the Internet provides a relatively free space in otherwise closed media environments," he said.
Karlekar says that while there are increasing attempts to restrict and limit the influence of the Internet, the medium is contributing to the opening up of intellectual freedoms and a source of potential hope for change.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Kenya's president says the killing of Osama bin Laden is an "act of justice" for the victims of the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi.
President Mwai Kibaki released a statement Monday saying he commends all those behind the successful tracking down and killing of bin Laden.
Bin Laden's al-Qaida network claimed responsibility for the August 1998 truck bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya's capital. The attack killed more than 200 people and wounded several thousand.
A near-simultaneous attack on the U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania killed another 11 people.
In separate comments Monday, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Kenyans welcome the killing of bin Laden.
He and other officials warned that bin Laden's death does not mean the end of the war on terrorism. The French news agency quotes military spokesman Bogita Ongeri as saying security forces will "remain vigilant" in Nairobi, Mombasa and other areas in case al-Qaida fighters attempt new attacks.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
After U.S. President Barack Obama announced Osama bin Laden's death in a firefight in Pakistan, people gathered for impromptu celebrations at the White House and in New York at Ground Zero and Times Square.
The mood at Ground Zero is euphoric. Thousand of New Yorkers, military veterans and visitors have converged on the scene to say "good riddance" to Osama bin Laden. They're chanting, "USA, USA," singing God Bless America". People in the crowd are are saying bin Laden's death not only brings justice to him but closure to America. And, one student told me he should be studying for his final exams but he wasn't about to miss history in the making at Ground Zero.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Officials say Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas will sign a unity agreement in Cairo Wednesday to end the divide that has left Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza with rival governments.
Officials say Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal will attend a ceremony Wednesday marking the signing. Meshaal is already in Cairo, and Abbas is due to arrive on Tuesday.
The agreement between the Palestinian factions calls for the formation of an interim government followed by presidential and legislative elections within a year.
A top Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip said Monday that the prime minister of the new unity government should come from Gaza, not the West Bank.
The deal was sharply criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week because Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group.
He said Abbas must choose "peace with Israel or peace with Hamas." He added: "There is no possibility for peace with both."
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
The news that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is dead was widely welcomed around the world, as leaders warned the fight against terrorism was not over.
Former U.S. president George W. Bush called bin Laden's death a "momentous achievement." Bush was president when al-Qaida terrorists attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said New Yorkers have waited nearly 10 years for news of bin Laden's death. He said it is his hope that the development will bring some closure and comfort to all those who lost loved ones on September 11.
Crowds gathered outside the White House to celebrate bin Laden's death. There were similar scenes in New York City, both in Times Square and at the site known as "ground zero," where the World Trade Center twin towers stood before being destroyed in the September 11 attacks.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said bin Laden was a symbol of international terror. She said while the world is a bit more safe with his death, the danger of terrorism persists.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the news of the al-Qaida leader's death brings "great relief" to people across the world. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi described the death as a great result for the U.S. and all democracies. French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed bin Laden's death as a major coup in the fight against terrorism.
Both bin Laden's ancestral homeland of Yemen and his birthplace of Saudi Arabia also welcomed his death, saying that they hope it will contribute to anti-terrorism efforts.
In Israel, a key target of bin Laden's wrath, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the al-Qaida leader's death a resounding victory for justice. India called the killing a joyous milestone, and said the world must press to eliminate safe havens provided to terrorists.
Pakistan called bin Laden's death a major setback for terrorist groups around the world. But the Pakistani Taliban threatened revenge attacks against the Pakistani and U.S. governments.
Video footage of reaction in Washington D.C., New York City
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
No comments:
Post a Comment