Speaking with CNN outside Cairo, Omar bin Laden, the fourth of 11 children born to Osama's first wife, said his father was fulfilling a personal mission. When his father was fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, Washington considered him a hero, he said.

"He believes this is his job -- to help the people," he said. "I don't think my father is a terrorist because history tells you he's not."

The son, 26, said he last saw his father in 2000 when he decided to drop out of an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan because he didn't want to be associated with killing civilians, the network reported. He said he had a message for his father.

"I try and say to my father: 'Try to find another way to help or find your goal," he said. "This bomb, this weapon -- it's not good to use it for anybody."