Most foreign leaders Monday praised the United States for killing Osama bin Laden, but followers of the world’s most wanted terrorist howled for revenge.
British Prime Minister David Cameron cheered the death of bin Laden, saying his demise will “bring great relief to people across the world.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy telephoned President Obama to congratulate him on the success of the Navy SEAL assault on bin Laden’s compound in northern Pakistan on Sunday.
In Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki said killing bin Laden brought justice for the relatives and victims of a deadly 1998 terrorist bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. The attack killed 212 people, including 12 Americans, and injured more than 4,000 others.
“His killing is an act of justice to those Kenyans who lost their lives and the many more who suffered injuries,” he said.
The Nairobi bombing and a coordinated one at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania were the first attacks to bring the world’s attention to the Saudi-born terrorist and his shadowy al Qaeda terrorist network.
Reaction to bin Laden’s death from his fanatical followers was swift.
“Woe to his enemies. By God, we will avenge the killing of the Sheik of Islam,” wrote a bin Laden supporter known only as Assad al-Jihad2, who cried for revenge on jihad websites.
“The battle between us and the international tyranny is long and will not be stopped by the martyrdom of our beloved one, the Lion of Islam.”
A leader of the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip condemned the U.S. assault on bin Laden, calling it part of a larger policy based on the “shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.”
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh praised bin Laden as an “Arab holy warrior.”
“We ask God to offer him mercy with the true believers and martyrs,” he said.
Iranian officials reacted to his death with a mix of political spin and conspiratorial thinking.
“We hope that this development will end war, conflict, unrest and the death of innocent people, and help to establish peace and tranquility in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
One Iranian lawmaker, Javad Jahangirzadeh, said the United States killed bin Laden “to prevent possible leakage of the priceless intelligence that he had.”
“How could a terrorist hide himself from intelligence sources … and intelligence services cooperating with the West?” the Iranian lawmaker asked.
In Venezuela, which has sided with dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi in the Libyan civil war, Vice President Elias Jaua accused the United States of murder.
“It surprises me to no end how natural crime and murder has become, how it is celebrated,” Mr. Jaua said on Venezuelan state television.
“At least before, imperialist governments were more subtle. … Here, the only thing that prevails is murder.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani praised the U.S. attack on bin Laden, while former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf criticized the assault as a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
“We will not allow our soil to be used against any other country for terrorism, and therefore I think it’s a great victory,” Mr. Gilani said.
“It’s a success, and I congratulate the success of this operation.”
Mr. Musharraf, however, complained, “American troops coming across the border and taking action in one of our towns … is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan. It is a violation of our sovereignty.”
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said finding bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan is proof that his country is “not the place of terrorism.”
Bin Laden found shelter in Afghanistan until a U.S. invasion toppled his host, the brutal Taliban regime, after al Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
India, also a target of al Qaeda-inspired terrorists, warned that the fight against terrorism is not over.
“The world must not let down its united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighborhood,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesman. “The struggle must continue unabated.”
Europe, which has suffered from repeated attacks planned or inspired by al Qaeda, welcomed the news of bin Laden’s death.
“Osama Bin Laden was a criminal responsible for heinous terrorist attacks that cost the lives of thousands of innocent people,” said Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, in a joint statement from Brussels.
“His death makes the world a safer place and shows that such crimes do not remain unpunished.”
They promised that the European Union will continue to cooperate with the United States in the war on terrorism.
“This is a major achievement in our efforts to rid the world of terrorism,” they said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the U.S. assault.
“With the killing of Osama bin Laden … our American friends have accomplished an important strike against international terrorism,” she said.
“I conveyed to … President Obama our respect for this achievement and for the successful commando action.”
Canada, however, received the news with “sober satisfaction,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
“Sadly,” he added of bin Laden, “others will take his place.”
*This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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