ISLAMABAD // The al Qa'eda founder and leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed in an 80-minute battle early this morning in the city of Abbottabad, witnesses said.
Osama bin Laden: US president Barack Obama has announced that the world's most wanted terrorist has been killed
Last Updated: May 2, 2010
Osama bin Laden buried at sea: US official
Islamic practice calls for the body to be buried within 24 hours and finding a country willing to accept the remains would have been difficult, the official said.
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Osama bin Laden obituary
Bin Laden used a family inheritance to build the global terrorist network that killed almost 3,000 people in September 11, 2011.
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The United States is ensuring that bin Laden's body is being handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition, a US official told reporters on Monday.
The witnesses said they were awoken at about 12.45am local time by the sounds of explosions and, from their rooftops, could see three helicopters firing on a house in the suburb of Bilal Town, located on the Pakistan Military Academy Road. Sounds of shooting ended just after 2am, residents said.
"We watched as one of the helicopters was shot down and exploded when it hit the ground," said Ehtesham-ul-Haq, 30, a businessman who watched from his home on a mountainside overlooking Abbottabad.
Express 24/7, a Lahore, Pakistan-based television station, last night showed video of what it said was compound in Abbottabad in flames. Several Pakistani televisions stations broadcast what they said was a still photograph of bin Laden's body, with his face smeared with blood and his left eye mutilated, Bloomberg reported.
Barack Obama, the US president, gave the go ahead for the operation early in the morning of April 29, according to a US official.
Abbottabad is a city of 100,000 located 50km from the capital and 60km from Mansehra, where the mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombing, Umar Patek, was arrested by Pakistani intelligence operatives on March 29. Pakistani military units are based in Abbottabad and its civilian residential neighbourhoods are administered by military authorities.
Unconfirmed Pakistani media reports said the operation had involved commandos of Pakistan's elite Special Services Group, possibly supported by two US army Apache gunship helicopters.
Pakistani cable news channels said bin Laden had been hiding in a house rented by a family from Pakistan's tribal areas, where he fled in November 2001. The areas are heavily populated by militants.
Residents said Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the area.
A spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan issued a statement denying the death of bin Laden, and describing Mr Obama's announcement as "baseless".
However, sources in the Afghan Taliban, based in Karachi, said they had confirmed bin Laden's death from their sympathisers in the Abbotabad area.
"We spent the night verifying the report and there is no doubt, he is dead," said an Afghan Taliban source based in the southern city of Karachi, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The area around Abbotabad and Mansehra is crowded with seminaries.
Meanwhile militant sources said top members of al Qa'eda and Afghan Taliban living in hiding in Pakistan were preparing to leave the country.
Other Karachi-based militant sources connected with al Qa'eda said a successor to bin Laden would be announced very soon, possibly within 24 hours.
However, no violent reaction was being planned, they said.
"Right now, the priority is safety. All leading figures will be constantly on the move, not staying at one location for more than 15 minutes," said the source.
"The decision has been taken for all of them to leave the country and return home to Afghanistan as soon as possible," he said.
* Muzammil Pasha reported from Abbotabad and Amjad Hadayat reported from Karachi
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Indika
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More on Palestine-Israeli relations
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
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MATCH INFO
BRIGHTON 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
McTominay 44'
Mata 73'
Pogba 80'
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