Obama meets bin Laden raid troops

US President Barack Obama has met the assault forces who carried out the strike on Osama bin Laden and has awarded them a presidential citation.

The White House said the president, along with Vice President Joe Biden, met privately with the troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to thank them for their service.

Obama met the full assault force involved in the raid in Pakistan carried out by Navy Seals and also with helicopter operators who got them there.

He awarded the units involved a Presidential Unit Citation – the highest such honour that can go to a military unit – to recognise “extraordinary service and achievement”.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban has said that bin Laden's death would only serve to boost morale in insurgent ranks and encourage them in the war against the US and its Nato allies.

In statement sent by email to news organisation today, the Taliban said the death of the terror leader “will give a new impetus to the current jihad against the invaders”, meaning the US and its international partners.

The Taliban praised bin Laden for his sacrifice in the war against the Soviets in the 1980s and said anyone who believes his death will undermine the current conflict is displaying a “lack of insight”.

Bin Laden was killed early on Monday in a US raid against his hiding place in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad.