Americas News

Fidel Castro: Bin Laden's death was "murder"

May 5, 2011, 18:42 GMT

Havana - Cuban revolution leader Fidel Castro, a fierce critic of US policy since taking power on the island more than 50 years ago, on Thursday called the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden an 'abominable act.'

Bin Laden was killed Monday by US special forces, in a mansion in Pakistan where he had been hiding possibly for years, according to the United States government.

'Whatever the actions attributed to bin Laden, the murder of an unarmed human being who is surrounded by his family constitutes an abominable act. Apparently that is what the government of the most powerful nation that ever existed did,' Castro wrote in an article published Thursday in Cuban state media.

Under the headline 'The murder of Osama bin Laden,' Castro denounced that bin Laden was executed 'without law or trial' in the presence of his children and wives.

The chief of the terrorist network al-Qaeda was blamed in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the 9/11 suicide strikes and thousands of others around the world since the 1990s. His rapid burial at sea by the US military 'shows fear and insecurity,' Castro said.

Largely retired from government but still an active commentator in articles in Cuba's state-run media, Castro charged that the raid violated Pakistan's laws and national dignity and 'insulted' its religious traditions.

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