Chomsky says US couldn't convict bin Laden

Noam Chomsky says his country wants Osama bin Laden dead.

The author says the US couldn't convict him of the September 11 attacks.

He also accuses America of using the war on terrorism to bolster its power and credibility.

Professor Chomsky says bombing Taliban soldiers is a crime and only intended to exercise power.

Pakistani newspaper Dawn quotes him as saying: "If captured alive it will be difficult for America to try Osama in a court of law and that is why it considers it better to kill him."

He adds the mercenaries which gathered in Afghanistan to fight the USSR were funded by the CIA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

He said: "Yes, Afghans had the right to defend the USSR invasion, but America and Muslim countries had no right to raise mercenaries in Afghanistan."