No release of Bin Laden photos

President Barack Obama has decided that photos of the dead Osama Bin Laden should not be released.

US officials had been discussing whether to publish pictures of Bin Laden's body to counter conspiracy theories that he did not die.
But Mr Obama believed the images could inflame sensitivities, saying: "We don't trot out this stuff as trophies."
The al-Qaeda leader was shot dead in a raid on Monday by US special forces in northern Pakistan.

He was said to have masterminded the 9/11 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania as well as many other atrocities.
On Thursday, Mr Obama will visit Ground Zero, the site of World Trade Center in New York, to remember victims of the attacks.

A spokesman said he would lay a wreath and meet emergency workers and relatives of those who died, but would not be making a speech.



Computer files
Mr Obama revealed his decision on the photographs during an interview with CBS television's 60 Minutes programme.

The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says that President Obama has clearly decided that releasing them was not worth the risk.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said at a briefing that Mr Obama believed it was important to make sure that photographs were not "floating around as incitement or as a propaganda tool".

Mr Carney said the administration had been monitoring world reaction and there was no doubt that al-Qaeda believed Bin Laden was dead.

"There are going to be some folks who deny it. The fact of the matter is, you won't see Bin Laden walking on this Earth again," Mr Obama said.

"It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence," he added.

"I think that, given the graphic nature of these photos, it would create some national security risk."

Mr Obama's decision prompted a mixed reaction from US politicians, some of whom were shown the photos.

Steny Hoyer, the number two Democrat in the House of Representatives, said he shared the president's view.

"In my opinion there's no end served by releasing a picture of someone who has been killed," he said, quoted by CNN.
But senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the decision was a mistake.

"I know Bin Laden is dead," he said. "But the best way to protect and defend our interests overseas is to prove that fact to the rest of the world. I'm afraid the decision made today by President Obama will unnecessarily prolong this debate."

Sarah Palin said on Twitter that the White House was "pussy-footing" over the photos and that showing them was "part of the mission".

The US president's decision contradicted a statement made a day earlier by CIA director Leon Panetta, who said the photos would be released at some stage.

More names
The decision came as US officials began to comb through computer hard-drives, mobile phones and USB sticks found during the US Navy Seals raid on the compound in Abbottabad where Bin Laden was hiding.

US Attorney General Eric Holder said Washington expected to add more names to its terrorism watch-list as a result of data seized from the compound.

Two telephone numbers and 500 euros ($745; £450) were also found stitched into Bin Laden's clothing, there in case he needed to make a quick getaway.

Critics have raised concerns about the legality of the operation, after the US revised its account to acknowledge Bin Laden was unarmed when shot dead.

But Mr Holder said Bin Laden was a lawful military target, whose killing was "an act of national self-defence".

He told lawmakers in Congress: "Let me make something very clear: The operation in which Osama Bin Laden was killed was lawful.

"It was a kill-or-capture mission. He made no attempt to surrender."

Two of Bin Laden's couriers and one woman also died in Monday's assault, while one of the al-Qaeda leader's wives was injured.

The 54-year-old Bin Laden - American's most wanted man - was buried at sea from a US aircraft carrier, say US officials.

Mr Obama, who watched the raid from the White House on monitors, saw his approval rating jump 11 points to 57% in a New York Times/CBS News poll on Wednesday.

The compound where the operation took place is just a few hundred metres from the Pakistan Military Academy.

In unusually frank remarks, CIA director Leon Panetta told Time magazine: "It was decided that any effort to work with the Pakistanis could jeopardise the mission. They might alert the targets."

Pakistan rejected the US suggestions it could not have been trusted in advance.

Some US lawmakers are calling for billions of dollars in aid for Pakistan to be reduced or stopped altogether.

Bin Laden - Cameron: bin Laden was an extensive network of support in Pakistan

David Cameron, who is Osama bin Laden declared the death of the previous day's unscheduled statement to the House of Commons in London, says: not yet known whether this was the size of the support network, and therefore "it is appropriate to ask questions, and these issues will also be done" .



He added, however, that Pakistan has suffered more from terrorism than any other country in the world. Cameron said: Pakistani Prime Minister spoke about the previous day and the president, who told him unequivocally that 30 thousand Pakistan civilians died in terrorist acts. The British prime minister, said: British national interest to recognize that Britain and Pakistan are "waging the same fight" against terrorism. London, therefore, continue its cooperation with Pakistan in the intelligence, the detection of terrorist plots and prevent acts of terrorism - she added. Cameron reported that the al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden after the killing has not gone away, indeed there is a risk that the terrornetwork and related organizations to demonstrate they want actionability al-Qaeda leader killed in raid after quenching.

The constant risk of the so-called "lone wolf" type of attack, which only performs a radicalized terrorists, so we must be more vigilant than ever - he said the British prime minister. David Cameron recalled that Britain has the second highest terror alert was in place, which is the official definition of 'serious' terror represents. The Prime Minister said that this degree of preparedness of the government in cooperation with the police and intelligence services "to keep under review". Cameron did not, however, an indication that the pipeline would be the highest grade the imposition of anti-terror preparedness. This course will be put in place when the British security services "immediate" threat of terrorist attacks obtain details of specific intelligence. Osama bin Laden to the spartan living conditions, risking his life for the cause lengte around the myth of freedom, the reality is very different from that. The man who inspired others to sacrifice their lives, make yourself comfortable, large, expensive villa lived, and was not subjected to the ordeal, which are expected enduring híveitől - Tuesday's statement said the British prime minister. He added: bin Laden was among the victims of the Muslim more than any other religion followers.

Cameron by Osama bin Laden and el-Gaddafi Libyan leader Moammer "supposedly hated each other", however, it was one thing in common: they both feared that the naturalized citizenship and democracy in the Arab world. The Libyan connection operation the British prime minister, said Tuesday's parliamentary statement: Gaddafi war machine "every element of degraded" due to the Allied attack. The NATO fighter planes only in the last few days attacked 35 targets, including tanks, troop transport vehicles, bunkers and stores of war material. Continue the chain of command attacks, and - according to the wording of Cameron - "each weekend reports that" these attacks, one of Gaddafi's son also died. In this connection, the British prime minister, said that the Allies all the targets of the UN Security Council in 1970 and 1973 will be selected in accordance with the Resolution. These steps are permitted in all decisions which serve the protection of civilians, including attacks on command centers - said the British prime minister.

Was killed Osama bin Laden

The United States military operation in a killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on Sunday.The al-Qaeda leader 2001. September 11 terrorist attack was perpetrated notorious, but will have more attacks and a terroristgroup was building up too. Terroristcaptain videos of his life.


President Obama announces that Osama bin Laden has been killed by US special operation forces.


Key quotes from the President:
"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 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.

"As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not --- and never will be --- 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 a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."