LATEST NEWS: The Pentagon has released videos of Osama Bin Laden which were seized at the terror chief's compound in Pakistan. They show Bin Laden with a dark beard watching news reports of himself on TV. A propaganda video filmed by Bin Laden was also released at a news briefing in Washington.
AL-QAEDA finally confirmed yesterday that its leader Osama Bin Laden is dead - and vowed to avenge his killing by US forces.The terror network's statement came as conspiracy theories grew that the man behind the 9/11 and 7/7 atrocities was still alive.
The announcement also revealed Bin Laden recorded a final message just a week before he was shot dead in a raid by US Navy Seals in Pakistan.
His henchmen vowed to broadcast his call to arms as they pledged future attacks against the US and Pakistan.
Yesterday's statement - which paves the way for Bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahri to take over - said: "The blood of the holy warrior sheikh, Osama Bin Laden, God bless him, is too precious to us and to all Muslims to go in vain.
"We will remain, God willing, a curse chasing the Americans and their agents, following them outside and inside their countries. Soon, God willing, their happiness will turn to sadness, their blood will be mingled with their tears."
The statement added: "We in al-Qaeda organisation pledge to Allah the Almighty and ask his help, support and steadfastness to continue on the path of jihad, the path walked upon by our leaders, and on top of them, Sheikh Osama.
Threats ... Osama Bin Laden
Sipa Press / Rex Features The statement vowed Americans "will never enjoy security until our people in Palestine enjoy it", adding that "America's happiness will turn to sadness".
Evidence seized from Bin Laden's compound indicated al-Qaeda was plotting to derail a train in the US later this year to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
A White House spokesman said the US remained "highly vigilant" to foil any attempt to avenge Bin Laden's death.
Revenge ... al-Qaeda has threatened more attacks like those on the World Trade Centre
Senator Saxby Chambliss - who has been briefed on the raid as a member of the senate intelligence committee - said Bin Laden poked his head through a doorway then ducked back into the room as a bullet whizzed past his head.
Sen Chambliss added: "They missed him the first time, then went into the room and that's when they killed him."
US officials say the killing was lawful even though Bin Laden was unarmed, as the Seals feared he was about to grab a gun or detonate a booby trap. President Barack Obama was last night visiting the 25-strong Seals team in Kentucky to personally congratulate and thank them for the mission.
Pakistani police and intelligence agents yesterday arrested 40 people suspected of links to Bin Laden in Abbottabad, where he was holed up. The authorities refused to allow US agents access to three of Bin Laden's wives.
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By JOHN SIMPSON, BBC World Affairs Editor
John Simpson ... 'really scared'
It was July 1989. Filming outside Jalalabad we passed seven anti-communist mujahideen firing mortars at the town.
At once I noticed this figure with a long, black beard in beautifully clean white robes. Everything and everybody, including me, was dirty, dusty and smelly but this man looked pristine.
He strode purposefully to the other soldiers and said something in what I think was Dari.
My translator informed me: "He wants them to kill you."
Terrified, I watched intently as they ceased their bombardment to listen to the man's argument.
They had some sort of discussion and vote before telling him: "No".
Furious, my new enemy went to speak to a truck driver lingering nearby.
The translator told me he was offering him $500 to run me over. But my luck was obviously holding out because he wasn't a willing assassin either.
Fast forward several years to London and I opened a newspaper to find a picture of a man fast becoming the figurehead of a terror group known as al-Qaeda.
His name was Osama Bin Laden and he was the man who ordered my execution in Jalalabad. I thought of that showdown on Monday when I heard of his death.
I have encountered many terrorists during my work as a BBC foreign correspondent but something about him stood out.
He fascinated me and I was also REALLY scared. Physically he was overpowering - well over 6ft tall - but I could also see at once that he had serious power and influence - and a great sense of presence.
The Navy Seals who swooped on him must have expected a far angrier enemy but I believe he was more of a calm, thinking man.
I suspect the house surprised them too. I went to the home he had occupied in Kabul immediately after the city fell. It was a comfortable place. Bin Laden didn't live lavishly but order and cleanliness clearly mattered.
So what now for al-Qaeda? Until May 1 the west looked weak and stupid in the shadow of this man who could do such damage and cock a snook at us from his hiding place.
But now al-Qaeda is no longer winning and this is important. Terrorist incidents will continue but they won't have that same spark of inevitable success about them.
I am not an advocate of killing but Bin Laden declared war on the US and died fighting her troops. Now the balance of power is beginning to shift...
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