Washington: The following is reaction from US politicians and others to the news that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid involving the US military on a compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan:
Former US President George W Bush: "This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
Former US President Bill Clinton said, "I congratulate the president, the National Security team and the members of our armed forces on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice after more than a decade of murderous al Qaeda attacks."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said, "The news that Osama bin Laden is dead will bring great relief to people across the world. Osama bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen - for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British. It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror. This is a time to remember all those murdered by Osama bin Laden, and all those who lost loved ones. It is also a time too to thank all those who work round the clock to keep us safe from terrorism. Their work will continue. I congratulate President Obama and those responsible for carrying out this operation."
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, called the announcement of Osama bin Laden's death Sunday "great news for the security of the American people and a victory in our continued fight against al Qaeda and radical extremism around the world.
"We continue to face a complex and evolving terrorist threat, and it is important that we remain vigilant in our efforts to confront and defeat the terrorist enemy and protect the American people. I want to congratulate - and thank - the hard-working men and women of our Armed Forces and intelligence community for their tireless efforts and perseverance that led to this success. I also want to commend President Obama and his team, as well as President Bush, for all of their efforts to bring Osama bin Laden to justice," Boehner said in a statement.
Florida US Sen. Bill Nelson said, "Finally. We cut off the head of the snake. It's our intelligence that got him. The noose has been tightening because of our intelligence operations."
US Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the "welcome news" of the death of Osama bin Laden "is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, released a statement Monday morning welcoming the death of Osama bin Laden saying, "As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and Al Qaeda caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide. We also reiterate President Obama's clear statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."
Carrie Lemack, a woman whose mother was killed on American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, expressed "relief" over reports that Osama bin Laden is dead.
"Cannot express how this feels to my family, but relief is one word," Lemack said in an e-mail to CNN. "We hope we can now focus on all that that madman took, namely nearly 3,000+ innocent victims, and not on him."
Dustin Swensson, who recently served in Iraq said, "It's a hell of a day. It's historic. And it's what the world needed," as he celebrated outside the White House gates. "(I'll) always remember where I was when the towers went down and I'm always going to remember where I am now."
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