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Bin Laden bounty now $50m
13/07/2007 21:08 - (SA)
Washington - The United States Senate on Friday doubled the bounty on Osama bin Laden to $50m, reflecting frustration that the al-Qaeda mastermind remains free and rising anxiety about possible future attacks.
The vote followed a flurry of reports that the group had rebuilt its safe haven, leadership and capacity to plot terror operations, and was trying to sneak operatives into the US.
The Senate voted by 87-1 to boost the price on Bin Laden's head under the State Department Rewards for Justice programme, which has already paid out millions for top US targets, including Saddam Hussein's sons.
It directs Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "to authorise a reward of $50m for the capture or death or information leading to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden".
'al-Qaeda back to pre-9/11 strength'
The bill also addresses frustration among some lawmakers that the Bush administration has still not caught bin Laden, despite launching a massive manhunt after the September 11 2001 attacks.
It requires the secretaries of state and defence and the director of national intelligence to produce a report to Congress every 90 days on progress towards bringing bin Laden and other terror leaders to justice.
President George W Bush on Thursday denied reports that the intelligence assessment found al-Qaeda was back to its pre-September 11 strength.
"There is a perception in the coverage that al-Qaeda may be as strong today as they were prior to September 11 2001. That's simply not the case," said Bush.
The CIA's deputy director for intelligence, John Kringen, told a congressional committee on Wednesday that al-Qaeda appears to be "fairly well-settled into the safe haven in the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan."
- AFP
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