US seeks to question bin Laden’s wives

THE United States was hoping yesterday to question the detained three wives of Osama bin Laden, although Pakistani officials played down the possibility of any speedy access, saying no decision had been made.

US investigators, who have been sifting through a huge stash of material seized on May 2 after US special forces killed bin Laden in his Pakistani hideout, want to question his wives as they seek to trace his movements and his network.

A Pakistani decision to allow US investigators to question the women could begin to stabilise relations between the allies that have been severely strained by the al-Qaida leader’s killing.

A US official said in Washington on Monday that Pakistan appeared ready to grant access to the wives who were detained by Pakistani authorities at bin Laden’s compound after the raid. But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said it received no US request while other officials said no decision had been taken.

“It’s too early to even think about it” and Pakistani investigators have to finish their own questioning, a government official said.

Pakistan says the wives, one from Yemen and two from Saudi Arabia, and their children, will be repatriated. Pakistan was making contact with their countries but they had yet to say they would take them, the Pakistani official said.

The Pakistani government is under pressure to explain how the al-Qaida leader was found in the garrison town, a short distance from the main military academy.

But Pakistani co-operation is crucial to combating Islamist militants and to stabilising Afghanistan and the US administration has been keen to contain the fallout.

“We’re in high-level consultations with Pakistani officials” about bin Laden’s wives and all other issues related to the raid, a senior US administration official said. “We are committed to maintaining our cooperative relationship.”

Meanwhile, al-Qaida has warned the US made a “big mistake” and a “serious sin” in killing bin Laden and is calling on Muslims to avenge his death.

In a statement posted on the internet, al-Qaida’s official online media organisation, al-Fajr, says the American people “will pay the price” for the May 2 raid that killed bin Laden at a compound in Pakistan.

It acknowledges that President Barack Obama “is protected by armies”, but asks Americans, “who will protect you from our assault?”

Reuters