Bin Laden was a US prisoner before being killed: Ahmedinejad

Ahmedinejad says he had exact information Osama was held by the American military for sometime before being killed.


Afp May 16, 2011

TEHRAN: Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden was a prisoner in US custody for "sometime" before he was killed by the American military, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday.

"I have exact information that Bin Laden was held by the American military for sometime... until the day they killed him he was a prisoner held by them," the hardline president said in a live interview on Iranian state television.

"Please pay attention. This is important. He was held by them for sometime. They made him sick and while he was sick they killed him," Ahmadinejad added.

He accused US President Barack Obama for announcing the al Qaeda leader's death for "political gain."

"What the US president has done is for domestic political gain. In other words, they killed him for Mr Obama's election and now they are seeking to replace him with someone else," Ahmadinejad said without elaborating.

Bin Laden was shot dead on May 2 in a US commando raid on a heavily fortified compound near Islamabad, Pakistan.

On May 4, Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi too had cast doubt on Bin Laden's death, saying there were "ambiguities" over the way he was killed.

The Americans "said they threw his body in the sea. Why did they not allowed an independent expert to examine the body to say if it was Bin Laden or not?" Vahidi said.

Iran has always considered al Qaeda as a threat to its security. But the Islamic republic has regularly criticised the presence of US-led Western forces in Afghanistan, saying it prevented any negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict.

Tehran also regularly denounces the presence of US forces in Arab states of the Gulf, calling it a source of regional tension.

COMMENTS (57)

Dani | 12 years ago | Reply @shahrukh amjad: Mr. Shahrukh I recommend you to at least once visit iran and then see by your own eyes that how women live their how much freedom they have. Please do not talk about those things which you have not experienced or vitnessed. There is no other country except iran where all sects of mulims are living with complete freedom and happy. Before saying anything abt this visit iran once I am sure you will love this country.
Moiza | 12 years ago | Reply I really don't know how far the story of Osama's death true... But one thing is clear that USA only did this to divert Americans attention...towards Osama so the country who is economically going down will have something else on there mind. And then Obama had to stand for elections next year so he is making his position strong!! Well seeing is believing ( why would they through osama's body in Sea knowing! That he was the most wanted man in the world). They didn't even showed his body just one picture.. And proving it to the World that he had done it after 10 years of search. Iranians president interview I don't know how far is true but it carries weight! And one can dig deep in the story...
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