World Safer Place Without Osama: Obama

In prepared remarks, US President Barack Obama said “the world is safer, it is a better place, because of the death of Osama bin Laden.”

Obama added “today we are reminded that there is nothing we cannot do when we put our shoulders to the wheel. We have seen the display of patriotism here outside the White House, people waving flags, and singing the national anthem. We are fortunate to have Americans who risk their lives to protect ours - they take extraordinary risks so that we may be safe. We may not always know their names, we may not always know their stories, but they are always there, on the front line, and we are truly blessed.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Pentagon has stated that the body of Osama Bin Laden was dropped into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Pakistan, after the corpse was washed and places inside a white sheet, in adherence to Islamic traditions, according to a report on Reuters.

A US military officer reportedly even read prepared religious remarks which were translated into Arabic.

The washing and disposal occurred on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

Reuters also reported that Osama’s body was identified by one of the terrorist chief’s many wives, quoting a US intelligence official

However, no photos of Osama’s body has been released yet.

Separately, the head of the United Nations described Osama’s death as a “watershed moment” in the fight against terrorism.

This is a day to remember the victims of terrorism here in the United States and everywhere in the world, Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General Ban told reporters at UN headquarters.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: I want to offer my thoughts and prayers for the thousands of families who lost loved ones in Osama bin Laden's campaign of terror... I hope that families can find some comfort in the fact that justice has been served. Our close cooperation with Pakistan has put unprecedented pressure on Al Qaeda. That cooperation must continue. Our battle to stop Al Qaeda and its syndicate of terror will not stop with the death of Osama bin Laden.

Also, the government of Osama’s native Saudi Arabia, praised the killing.

Saudi Arabia hopes that the elimination of the leader of the terrorist Al-Qaeda organization will be a step towards supporting international efforts aimed at combating terrorism, the Saudi state news agency said.