Bin Laden dead?

[william northcote]

Probe into 'Bin Laden death' leak

President Jacques Chirac has ordered an inquiry into the leak of a French secret service memo claiming that Osama Bin Laden had died.

Mr Chirac told reporters he was surprised the memo had been leaked, and refused to comment on the claim itself.

A French newspaper quoted a document as saying the Saudi secret services were convinced the al-Qaeda leader had died of typhoid in Pakistan in late August.

Officials in Pakistan and the US said they could not confirm the account.

Saudi-born Bin Laden was based in Afghanistan until the Taleban government there was overthrown by US-backed forces in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.

Since then, US and Pakistani officials have regularly said they believe he is hiding in the lawless border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

His last videotaped message was released in late 2004, but several audio tapes have been released this year - the last at the end of June, in which Bin Laden praised Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, who was killed in an American air strike.

Internal organs paralysed

In its report, French regional daily L'Est Republicain said it had obtained a copy of a DGSE foreign intelligence service report dated 21 September.

"According to a usually reliable source, the Saudi services are now convinced that Osama Bin Laden is dead," it read.

"The information gathered by the Saudis indicates that the head of al-Qaeda fell victim, while he was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, to a very serious case of typhoid that led to a partial paralysis of his internal organs."

Mr Chirac said: "I am surprised that a confidential memo from the secret services has been published, therefore I've ordered the defence minister to start an inquiry.

"As far as the information itself is concerned, it's not confirmed in any way. Therefore I have no comment at all."

The Washington-based IntelCenter, which monitors terrorism communications, said it was not aware of any similar reports on the internet.

"We've seen nothing from any al-Qaeda messaging or other indicators that would point to the death of Osama Bin Laden," director Ben Venzke told the Associated Press news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5374160.stm

Could this be the beginning of good news?

[Prince Loeffler]

Could this be the beginning of good news?

Sorry Will ! Can't trust the media !

[william northcote]

Which is true. How can we trust this when there is no evidence. Even the American secret service seem to be in the dark over this. But it does make a good story, even if it turns out to be false.

[TommyK]

Greetings,

Osama was last seen in a Paris suburb instigating the riots last summer. Surely, the French remember that!

Regards,
TommyK

[Andy Watson]

That was Elvis you fool!

[ScottUK]

Not at all - seeing as it was Paris, I suggest it was Jimmy Morrison.

Sorry Will ! Can't trust the media !

Can't trust the French media...

[Jason Chambers]

If he is dead, he probably has been for some time. I think this is just some type of subversion to get coalition forces out of Afghanistan.

[BeginnerDavid]

It's well known that the British SAS had Bin Laden in their sights and were told by the commanders of the Afghan campaign to leave him 'for the Americans to capture'!

Waiting for the US Army to capture Bin Laden is like waiting for the French to invent deodorant.

[urbalte]

The report came from France. Need I say more? It's hard to trust a country that velcroe the red and blue fields of their flag.

[Prince Loeffler]

The report came from France. Need I say more? It's hard to trust a country that velcroe the red and blue fields of their flag.

Good One Jon !, Personaly I found it scary for the US to be an ally with France knowingly most french are born with both hands up ! Then agaon, Going to war without the French is pretty much like going hunting without an accordion.

Wait a sec....I thought the French Flag was pure white ?

[ScottUK]

It's hard to trust a country that velcroe the red and blue fields of their flag.

Hehe nice one. Not heard that before... I did once hear that their war ensign was a white sun on a white background!

[Fred27]

Well I think this place is as good as any to post a link to this article on Francophobia, and/or this equally interesting article on Anti-French sentiment in the United States. Enjoy!

[ScottUK]

http://pasta.e-rcps.com/gripes/

[monkeyboy_ssj]

Here is one thing that baffles us.

How come we haven't just blown up all the opium fields? Surely that would help stop the financial aid and also bringing drugs into the country.

[ScottUK]

Something about destabilising the country even further...