International reaction to bin Laden’s death
World leaders, lawmakers and academics have reacted to the news that Osama bin Laden has been killed. Western leaders have welcomed the news, while groups such as Hamas have condemned the operation.
“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. The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war” – US President Barack Obama
“This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done” – Former US president George Bush.
“It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror” – Prime Minister David Cameron.
“The death of Osama bin Laden, announced by President (Barack) Obama last night, is a watershed moment in our common global fight against terrorism” – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
“Until now I did not receive the latest news. But if the news (regarding the killing of Osama Bin Laden) are correct, we regard this as a continuation of the American policy that is based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood. Regardless of the differences in the Arab and Islamic world, and the different views, we condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab and Muslim holy warrior. We ask God to offer him mercy together with true believers and the martyrs.” – Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader
“This is an historic day for the United States of America, and for all the countries engaged in the battle against terrorism. I want to congratulate president Obama and the American people, I want to congratulate America’s soldiers and its intelligence personnel, for a truly outstanding achievement. It took ten years to track Osama Bin-Laden down, it took ten years to bring a measure of justice to his victims, but the battle against terrorism is long, and relentless and resolute. This is a day of victory, victory for justice, for freedom and for our common civilization.” – Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu
“Osama Bin Laden received his due punishment during an operation in Abbotabad of Pakistan. Osama Bin Laden was the one whose hands were dipped in the blood of thousands and thousands of children, youths, and elders of Afghanistan” – Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai
‘If it is true, then the killing of bin Laden 10 years after the September 11 incident is no big deal,’ – senior Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi.
“This is a huge achievement in the fight against terrorism but we know the fight against the terrorism and the ideology that Bin Laden represents continues and is as urgent as ever.” – Former Prime Minister Tony Blair
“He was the spiritual leader, not a foot soldier any more. He was like a supreme being. There are plenty more willing to fill his shoes – all those fanatical organisations have their young pretenders” – Sean Cassidy, whose son Ciaran was killed in the 7/7 attacks.
“I think we are at more risk temporarily today than we were yesterday. We need to be extremely vigilant” – David Blunkett, former home secretary.
“It would be very dangerous to assume that the death of bin Laden means that journalists can write the obituary of al Qaida” – Prof Paul Wilkinson, chairman of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews.
“There will be a need for calm and extra vigilance and that time is now. Despite seeing no justice for the victims in this world, as Muslims we believe that now these crimes will be left to Allah to judge” – Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Muslim think tank the Ramadhan Foundation.
“Bin Laden’s obvious successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is highly intelligent but is also a divisive and unappealing figure who has none of the mass-market appeal of Osama.” – Noman Benotman, a former jihadist leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and an associate of bin Laden from 1989 to 2000, now at the counter-terrorism thinktank, the Quilliam Foundation.