Report: Bin Laden Already Dead

Wednesday, December 26, 2001

Usama bin Laden has died a peaceful death due to an untreated lung complication, the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended funeral of the Al Qaeda leader.

"The Coalition troops are engaged in a mad search operation but they would never be able to fulfil their cherished goal of getting Usama alive or dead," the source said.

Bin Laden, according to the source, was suffering from a serious lung complication and succumbed to the disease in mid-December, in the vicinity of the Tora Bora mountains. The source claimed that bin Laden was laid to rest honorably in his last abode and his grave was levelled even as per his Wahabi belief.

About 30 close associates of bin Laden in Al Qaeda, including his most trusted and personal bodyguards, his family members and some "Taliban friends" attended the funeral rites. A volley of bullets were also fired to pay final tributes to the "great leader." The Taliban source who claims to have seen Usama's face before burial said "he looked pale and freak but calm, relaxed and confident."

Asked whether Usama had any feelings of remorse before death, the source vehemently said "No." Instead, he said, Usama was proud that he succeeded in his mission of igniting awareness amongst Muslims about hegemonistic designs and conspiracies of "pagans" against Islam. Usama, he said, held the view that the sacrifice of a few hundred people in Afghanistan was nothing as those who laid their lives in creating an atmosphere of resistance will be adequately rewarded by Almighty Allah.

When asked where are his last remains buried, the source said "I am sure that like other places in Tora Bora, that particular place too must have vanished."