WASHINGTON allowed members of Osama bin Laden’s family to jet out of the US in the immediate aftermath of September 11, even as American airspace was closed, a senior official said yesterday.

Some of Osama bin Laden’s bodyguards have been captured and are among the prisoners at the US military base in Cuba, American officials say.

FBI counterterrorism chief Dale Watson said tonight he believes Osama bin Laden is dead - the first time a senior US law enforcement official has publicly given an opinion on the al-Qaida leader’s status.