This is real "BREAKING" news, if it's confirmed by the authorities.
I've just read the article posted at
4:01 a.m. on MSNBC.com -- International Terrorism page.
The original report is from REUTERS:
French paper says bin Laden died in Pakistan
Saudi Arabia is convinced al-Qaida leader died of typhoid, paper says
PARIS | SEPT. 23, 2006 -- A French regional newspaper quoted a French secret service report on Saturday as saying that Saudi Arabia is convinced that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan last month.
L'Est Republicain printed what it said was a copy of the report dated Sept. 21 and said it was shown to President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and France's interior and defense ministers on the same day.
"According to a usually reliable source, the Saudi services are now convinced that Osama bin Laden is dead," the document said.
"The information gathered by the Saudis indicates that the head of al-Qaida was a victim while he was in Pakistan on Aug. 23, 2006, of a very serious case of typhoid which led to a partial paralysis of his internal organs."
The report, which was stamped with a "confidential defense" label and the initials of the French secret service, said Saudi Arabia first heard the information on Sept. 4 and that it was waiting for more details before making an official announcement.
Officials contacted by Reuters in Chirac's and Villepin's offices had no immediate comment.
A senior official in Pakistan's interior ministry said: "We have no information about Osama's death."
Saudi-born Bin Laden was based in Afghanistan until the Taliban government there was overthrown by U.S.-backed forces in late 2001. Since then, U.S. and Pakistani officials have regularly said they believe he is hiding somewhere on the rugged border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The last videotaped message released by bin Laden was in late 2004, but there have been several low quality audio tapes released this year.
I'll check another media portals.
UPDATED: This timing of surface is very skeptical.
First, the Reuters got this information from French paper 'L'Est Republicain.'
Second, the source of information came from
Saudi Arabia (without any authorised name) and routed via
French secret service.
French SS? Crouseau?
Need more digging....
Here's also an excerpt from REUTERS report via
Yahoo News Asia (Thanks Mishima, for your info.)
Saturday September 23, 6:47 PM
Pakistan given no info to back report bin Laden dead
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan has received no information from any foreign government that would corroborate a French newspaper report on Saturday that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan, a senior government official said.
"No government has shared any such information with us so far, which is the normal thing to do under such circumstances," the official, who has close knowledge of intelligence matters, told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
A senior official in Pakistan's Interior Ministry also said: "We have no information about Osama's death."
The daily L'Est Republicain reported that, according to a French secret service report, Saudi Arabia was convinced that bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan in late August.
High-ranking diplomats in the Pakistani capital also doubted the French regional newspaper's report.
The French government has said it could not confirm the report and would investigate the intelligence leak.
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