US will not release Osama Bin Laden death photos: Obama
May 5th, 2011 - 12:48 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, May 5 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has blocked the release of pictures of Osama bin Laden’s body, expressing concern that they might incite extremists to retaliate.
He said that US would not release “trophy” pictures of Osama bin Laden’s body, as the “graphic” photographs could be used as a “propaganda tool” by terrorist organizations if published.
“Given the graphic nature of these photos, it would create a national security risk. We don’t want this floating around as incitement to additional violence or a propaganda tool. That is not who we are. We don’t trot out this stuff as trophies,” The Telegraph quoted Obama, as saying.
“There is no doubt we have killed Osama bin Laden. The fact of the matter is you will not see bin Laden walking on this Earth again,” he added.
However, a photograph of the Al-Qaeda leader with a gaping bullet wound in his face has already been circulated among United States congressmen, leading to speculation that it could be leaked in days to come.
The president risked a row with Leon Panetta, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, who had promised the pictures would be released.
Panetta said there was “no question” about the pictures not being released as the rest of the world needed proof about Osama’s death.
Obama risks being criticized over his decision not to release the pictures, when he meets families of 9/11 victims today at Ground Zero in New York. (ANI)
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