Bin Laden network ‘ruined’

OSAMA BIN LADEN is hiding out with a small core of mainly Arab supporters, and the al-Qaida leader only sends messages by courier because his communications network has been destroyed, senior Pakistani military and intelligence officials said yesterday.

There have been no fresh clues to bin Laden’s whereabouts, but he generally is believed to be in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“In our opinion, the reports on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden are more speculative stories rather than based on accurate intelligence,” said Pakistan army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan.