Merkel clarifies bin Laden death comment, now says she's "relieved"

May 7, 2011, 15:11 GMT

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday said she was 'relieved' about Osama bin Laden's death, days after she was criticized for expressing happiness over the al-Qaeda leader's demise.

'Bin Laden was the head of an international terrorist network who had commissioned appalling crimes. We can be, and should be relieved that he can't hurt people any more,' Merkel told Passauer Neue Presse newspaper.

She came under fire this week from political allies and religious groups for welcoming bin Laden's killing by US forces in Pakistan.

On Monday Merkel said: 'I am happy that it has been possible to kill bin Laden,' later emphasizing that this meant he would no longer be able to orchestrate terrorist attacks.

Clarifying the 'happy' comment, Merkel said Saturday that she had meant she was relieved that he could no longer pose a danger to innocent people.

'This debate in Germany perplexes me,' said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in comments to appear Sunday in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

'One of the most brutal of murderers can no longer continue his mischief, and we're arguing about the words you're allowed to use to comment on the event.'

Westerwelle said he experienced 'a sense of relief' when he heard that bin Laden had been killed, even though he would have preferred that the al-Qaeda leader was brought to trial.

An ARD television poll this week showed that a majority of Germans disapproved of the killing and believed bin Laden should have been taken prisoner instead.

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