Pakistan: Bin Laden killed by US forces near Islamabad

Islamabad, 2 May (AKI) - Osama Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader that approved the 11 September attacks in the United States that took the lives of around 3,000 people, has been killed in Pakistan by American forces, US president Barack Obama has announced.

Bin Laden was killed in a ground operation in a wealthy neighbourhood near Pakisani capital Islamabad, Obama said in a televised announcement late Sunday.

Obama said it was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat Al-Qaeda."

Bin Laden for more than a decade evaded capture even with 25 million bounty on his head.

Three other men were killed in the raid - one of Bin Laden's sons and two couriers, according to news reports.

He was widely thought to be hiding out in Pakistan's troubled tribal region close to the border with Afghanistan.

The Al-Qaeda leader's body was disposed of at sea ''in a traditional Islamic'' way, CNN reported, citing unnamed officials.

Large crowds gathered outside the White House in Washington and the site of the World Trade Center attack in New York chanting "USA, USA" following the announcement.

News reports said a senior a small US team had conducted the operation in about 40 minutes.

One helicopter was lost due to "technical failure". The team destroyed it and left in its other aircraft.

Bin Laden was at the top of the US most wanted list.