President: Photos of Osama bin Laden's Body Will Not Be Released

Submitted by Nancy Smith on May 4, 2011 - 2:58pm

CBS News reported Wednesday that President Obama has decided not to release photos of the body of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Apparently Obama told 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft of his decision during an interview scheduled to air Sunday.

The mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in America was shot in the head and chest when U.S. commandoes raided his compound in the Pakistan city of Abbottabad early Monday. U.S. officials said his body was then flown out by helicopter and buried at sea after Islamic rites were performed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

Officials have said photos were taken of the corpse showing a gaping wound in bin Ladens head.

A contentious debate within the Obama White House has ensued ever since -- over whether to releasephotos of the corpse to the public. Some in the administration believe release of the photos will quiet the skeptics; other insiders believe the truly "identifying photo" is too gruesome and "could be inflammatory."

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