Terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden has been buried at sea, United States media reported.
President Barack Obama today announced that bin Laden had been killed in a raid by American troops at his luxury hideout in Abbottabad, about 100km from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.
Quoting a US official, Associated Press reported that had been buried at sea, and accorded Islamic practice and tradition, which requires a body to be buried within 24 hours of death.
The official told AP that finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, so the US decided to bury him at sea.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key said the world was now a better place with the demise of bin Laden.
Bin Laden was the elusive mastermind behind the devastating September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US that left 3000 people dead and prompted America’s war on terror in Afghanistan.
“Justice has been done," the President Obama said in an emergency address to the nation today.
Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaeda. US officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured.
US personnel identified him by facial recognition, the official said, declining to say whether DNA analysis had also been used.
President Obama provided few details of the operation beyond to say that he had personally ordered it be carried out. Other officials said it was so secretive that no foreign officials were informed in advance, and only a small circle inside the administration was aware of what was unfolding half a world away.
But within hours of the announcement, Pakistani officials and a witness said bin Laden's guards had opened fire from the roof of the building, and one of the choppers crashed.
The sound of at least two explosions rocked the small northwestern town of Abbottabad, where the al-Qaeda chief made his last stand.
Reports said Mr Obama convened at least nine meetings with top national security officials in the lead-up to the raid.
Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death as a momentous achievement. "The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," Mr Bush said.
Mr Obama spoke with Bush and former President Bill Clinton tonight to inform them of the developments.
He struck a less than boastful tone in his brief announcement, although he said the death of bin Laden was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda.
"His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al-Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant," he added.