Global General

Merkel says relieved about bin Laden's death

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-02 16:17

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle delivers a statement to the media about the death of Osama Bin Laden in Berlin, May 2, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel told US President Barack Obama that she was relieved about the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by US forces, according to a statement released by her spokesman on Monday.

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The United States had succeeded in making a decisive strike against al Qaeda, Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement. But the chancellor warned that international terrorism has not yet been defeated.

"With the commando operation against Osama bin Laden and his killing, US forces succeeded in making a decisive strike against al Qaeda," Merkel's spokesman said in a statement.

"Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her relief about this news to US President Barack Obama," Seibert said.

"Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people...The forces of peace were successful last night. International terror has not been defeated. We'll all have to remain vigilant."

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