Bin Laden's death not end to al-Qaida

LYON, France, May 2 (UPI) -- Even though Osama bin Laden is dead, the terrorist organization he helped establish is still operating globally, Interpol's secretary-general warned Monday.

U.S. forces stormed a heavily fortified compound about 35 miles north of Islamabad, Pakistan, during the weekend. U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday that bin Laden, al-Qaida's leader, was killed during the attack.

"Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children," Obama said in a televised address.

Bin Laden was a top target of U.S. counter-terrorism operations at least since the late 1990s when al-Qaida carried out suicide bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He also ordered the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the deadliest foreign strikes on U.S. soil since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble said the death of bin Laden is a psychological blow to al-Qaida, which required its members to swear allegiance to bin Laden.

"The world's most wanted international terrorist is no more but the death of bin Laden does not represent the demise of al-Qaida affiliates and those inspired by al-Qaida, who have and will continue to engage in terrorist attacks around the world," Noble said in a statement. "We therefore need to remain united and focused in our ongoing co-operation and fight, not only against this global threat but also against terrorism by any group anywhere."

The FBI updated its listing of bin Laden on its Web site Monday with the words "deceased" over the picture of the terrorist mastermind.