U.S. Thinks Osama bin Laden Hides in One of CIS States

PanARMENIAN.Net - Osama bin Laden is hiding on the territory of one of the central Asian states of the former USSR, Richard Clarke, former presidential adviser on counter-terrorism said in an interview with the National Public Radio. "You are looking for him throughout Pakistan and can't find him. Maybe it's just because he is not there," he said. However he did not exclude bin Laden may be in Somali or Iran. Russia refused to comment on the statement.



"We do not know whether such statements are grounded and cannot comment on them," said the press office of the Russian Intelligence Service. In response to the statement by the U.S. official the law enforcement bodies of Kyrgyzstan said today they do not possess any information on the issue.



"This statement should be given serious treatment," Secretary of the Security Council of the republic said. He underscored he doesn't exclude the possibility of bin Laden's appearance in the region. The Central Asian republics should be vigilant, he added.



Bin Laden is the "most wanted" man in the western countries. As part of an intensified effort to capture terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, the State Department is considering doubling the bounty on his head to $50 million. Bin Laden was rumored in the press to have died, however the rumors did not prove true. In an address to the U.S. Osama bin Laden urged to return the body of his top deputy Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq June 7. Washington said the voice was genuine, reported Vsglyad Russian newspaper