Musharraf: There was no deal on bin Laden

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 10 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf adamantly denied Tuesday that he ever agreed to a U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden.

Musharraf said there was no secret 2001 deal as reported by Britain's Guardian Monday. He made the denial an an interview with Pakistani television's ARY News, CBS reported.

Musharraf said there was never any such agreement, written or verbal.

Now running an opposition party from self-imposed exile in London, the former military ruler has vociferously denounced the May 2 Navy SEAL raid that killed bin Laden.

The Guardian, citing current and retired U.S. and Pakistani officials, said the deal was made between Musharraf and President George W. Bush after bin Laden escaped the Americans in the Afghan mountains of Tora Bora in late 2001.

"There was an agreement between Bush and Musharraf that if we knew where Osama was, we were going to come and get him," said a former U.S. official. "The Pakistanis would put up a hue and cry, but they wouldn't stop us."

A senior Pakistani official told The Guardian the deal was renewed during the transition to civilian rule in 2008.

Pakistan denies advance knowledge of the May 2 raid.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani told Parliament Monday that in the event of another U.S. violation of its sovereignty "Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate with full force."