Reaction: World Leaders Hail US Assault

8:07pm UK, Monday May 02, 2011

British Prime Minister David Cameron says Osama bin Laden's death will "bring great relief to people across the world".

He was speaking as global leaders rushed to congratulate President Barack Obama on the US raid in Pakistan in which the al Qaeda leader was killed.

:: All the reaction worldwide to the US announcement of Bin Laden's death

Mr Cameron said: "Osama bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen - for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British.

"This is a time to remember all those murdered by Osama bin Laden, and all those who lost loved ones.

"It is also a time too to thank all those who work round the clock to keep us safe from terrorism. Their work will continue. I congratulate President Obama and those responsible for carrying out this operation."

Mr Blair said the death was a 'huge achievement'

He added: "Of course, nothing will bring back those loved ones that families have lost to terror.

"But at least they know the man who was responsible for these appalling acts is no more."

However, he warned that the death did not mark the end of the threat from extremist terrorism and said it would be necessary to be "particularly vigilant" about the risk of retaliatory attacks in the days ahead.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair - who was in power during both the 2001 and 2005 attacks - sent his heartfelt gratitude to President Obama.

He added: "We should never forget 9/11 was also the worst ever terrorist attack against UK civilians, and our thoughts are with all those - American, British and from nations across the world - who lost their lives and with their loved ones who remain and who live with their loss.

"9/11 was an attack not just on the United States, but on all those who shared the best values of civilisation.

"The operation shows those who commit acts of terror against the innocent will be brought to justice, however long it takes.

"So this is a huge achievement in the fight against terrorism but we know the fight against the terrorism and the ideology that Bin Laden represents, continues and is as urgent as ever."

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary William Hague has ordered UK embassies around the world to review their security, saying the UK should be "even more vigilant" than usual for the threat of terrorist attacks.

Mr Hague, visiting the Egyptian capital Cairo, said the "removal" of bin Laden was a "very, very positive development".

"It is unequivocally a good thing that he is no longer able to pursue terror, murder and mayhem in the world," he said.

Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the US, told Sky News that the death would be a huge boost to Barack Obama's presidency.

He added: "This, for the Americans, is a lesson to the world: You don't mess with the US and if you do we will always come after you and settle the score."

Sir Christopher said if Bin Laden had been kept alive he would have become the "impossible prisoner".

"If he were alive and taken prisoner, what the hell would they do with him?" he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also spoke of the "great sense of relief".

He added: "This successful US operation is a major step forward and a serious blow to Al Qaeda but it does not mean that the struggle against terrorism is over."

World leaders have also been speaking about the death.

Germany's Angela Merkel said the death was "good news".

"Bin Laden was a symbol for the international terror that did not respected life, only killed and only destroyed.

"He pretended to act in the name of Islam but that was mockery of this belief, a mockery of any other religion."

Pakistan's high commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hasan told Sky News: "There has been some criticism in the media today about having Osama in our midst in Abbottabad.

"The fact is, Osama has been a nomad, a gypsy, who has been travelling from one place to another."

He went one: "Abbottabad, probably, he has chosen as a sort of safe haven, in the sense that it was out of the main focus of terrorist activities and it was a peaceful place and he thought that he would mix up with the local people and find refuge there."

Afghan president Hamid Karzai said the killing was "very important news", while France's Nicolas Sarkozy said he "saluted US tenacity".

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killing a "resounding triumph for justice, freedom and the values shared by all democratic nations".

However, Indian home affairs minister Palaniappan Chidambaram expressed his "grave concern" that Bin Laden was found inside Pakistan.

"This fact underlines our concern that terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan," he said. The 2008 Mumbai attacks, which left 164 dead, were carried out by extremists operating out of Pakistan."

Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said there would be mixed feelings in Pakistan about the killing.

He said it could "agitate" what he described as an extremist minority in the country, although the elimination of Bin Laden would be welcomed by most.

More on Osama bin Laden's death:

:: All the latest breaking news on Bin Laden's death.

:: "Justice has been done", says Barack Obama.

:: People across America celebrate.

:: Pictures: US joy at Osama's death.

:: Pictures: How US reported Osama's death.

:: PM David Cameron: "Death brings great relief."

:: Bin Laden: World's top terrorist target.

:: Bin Laden is dead - but al Qaeda lives on.

:: Tweeter blogs Bin Laden raid live.

:: Analysis: How will death affect UK?

:: Britain on alert for fresh terror attacks.

:: Bin Laden victims: families' relief.

:: Can US offer final proof of death?