You may recall that he was widely believed to be dead for several years after 9/11. I therefore take this report with reserve. In any case, if he is dead, the jihad will continue. It is not based on the charismatic power of any single leader, but on an ideology.
“Bin Laden believed dead: report,” from Reuters, with thanks to all who sent this in:
A newspaper has quoted a French secret service report as saying Saudi Arabia is convinced Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan last month.
The French regional newspaper, L’Est Republicain, has printed what it says is a copy of the report, dated September 21.
It says the report was shown to French President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and France’s Interior and Defence Ministers on the same day.
“According to a usually reliable source, the Saudi services are now convinced that Osama Bin Laden is dead,” the document said.
“The information gathered by the Saudis indicates that the head of Al Qaeda was a victim while he was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, of a very serious case of typhoid, which led to a partial paralysis of his internal organs.”
The report, stamped with a “confidential defence” label and the initials of the French secret service, says Saudi Arabia first heard the information on September 4 and is waiting for more details before making an official announcement.
And also from Reuters (thanks to Sr. Soph): France orders probe into bin Laden death report leak