Al-Qaida has confirmed the death of its leader, Osama bin Laden.
The U.S. monitoring group SITE Intelligence quoted on Friday a statement attributed to the terrorist network, which had appeared on militant websites.
In the statement, al-Qaida vowed to continue its attacks on Americans and U.S. allies both inside and outside the United States. It also promised to release soon an audio message that it said bin Laden recorded the week before his death.
In addition, the terror group urged Pakistanis to rise up against their government and "cleanse" their country of what it called the shame brought on them by bin Laden's death in Pakistan.
U.S. special forces killed bin Laden early Monday during a covert raid in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad - a two-hour drive from Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
Earlier Friday, Pakistani intelligence officials said one of Osama bin Laden's wives told them she stayed at the compound where the terrorist leader was killed for five years.
Officials said the Yemeni woman, known as "Amal," is one of at least three bin Laden wives. It is not clear if Pakistan is holding other bin Laden wives or relatives.
The killing of bin Laden prompted hundreds of people to protest against the United States in the southwestern city of Quetta Friday. One cleric said the death of al-Qaida's leader would produce thousands of other Osamas.
Widespread anti-Americanism in Pakistan is fueled by the 10-year war in neighboring Afghanistan and a CIA effort to target militants who live in Pakistan's tribal regions.
Article by VOA News