Osama bin Laden was the most notorious terrorist of modern times.

The al-Qaeda mastermind remained at the top of the FBI’s most wanted list for more than a decade with a $25 million bounty on his head.

But moving around the lawless tribal frontier region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he evaded all attempts to track and assassinate him – until now.

His distinctive bearded image became an icon of inspiration for bloodthirsty Islamic extremists worldwide.

He defied the isolation by issuing a series of video and audio messages that ensured his name remained at the forefront of the “war on terror”.

It was in one 2004 tape that Bin Laden finally and unambiguously claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. His words simply confirmed what intelligence agencies around the world had known since the first aeroplane hit the World Trade Centre at 8.46 a.m.

Security officials had already been hunting him over a number of atrocities, including the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network has since been linked to the July 2005 London bombings and attacks in Bali, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh and Istanbul.

His longevity in the face of a global manhunt using the most sophisticated technology available was remarkable.

As almost two-thirds of the al-Qaeda leadership was wiped out in a series of attacks led by the, Bin Laden remained an elusive bogeyman.

Security experts believed a primitive, nomadic existence among trusted tribesmen made detection by satellite or electronic surveillance impossible.

Successive operations involving coalition troops and Pakistani forces failed to penetrate the protective circle of secrecy.

At times it seemed more likely Bin Laden would succumb to his harsh living conditions than an assassination attempt.

The fact he has been in poor health has been no secret and reports he died of natural causes, perhaps typhoid, surfaced repeatedly since 2005.

But none of them were corroborated and senior politicians said again and again they had no evidence one way or the other.

Born in Saudi Arabia – his exact birth date is not known but he gave the year 1957 – Bin Laden honed his deadly skills in Afghanistan during the 1980s as he led Arab fighters joining the war against the Soviet Union.

Worldwide reactions

Britain

British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed news of Osama bin Laden’s death, saying it would “bring great relief to people across the world”.

“It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror,” Mr Cameron said in a statement.

“Osama bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen – for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British.”

Vatican

Osama bin Laden bore “great responsibility for spreading hatred between peoples,” the Vatican said.

“Osama bin Laden bore, as we all know, great responsibility for spreading division and hatred between peoples, causing the deaths of innumerable people and using religion to achieve this goal,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement.

Muslims

A leading US Muslim organisation welcomed the killing of Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, saying he was a threat to America and the world.

“We join our fellow citizens in welcoming the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been eliminated as a threat to our nation and the world through the actions of American military personnel,” the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement.

“As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam,” the group continued.

Israel

Israeli leaders hailed the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at the hands of US forces, with the premier congratulating the US on “a victory for justice”.

“The state of Israel joins together in the joy of the American people after the liquidation of Bin Laden,” said a statement from the premier’s office.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates US President Barack Obama for this victory for justice, liberty and the common values of democratic nations which fought side by side against terrorism.”

President Shimon Peres also welcomed the news.

New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the world was a safer place without Osama bin Laden and his death brought justice to families of those killed in attacks he masterminded.

“Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including New Zealanders, in several different parts of the world,” Mr Key told reporters.

“While his removal will not necessarily bring an immediate end to terrorist activity, I have absolutely no doubt that the world is a safer place without Osama bin Laden.”

New York police

New York’s police chief called the killing of Osama bin Laden a “welcome milestone” for the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

About 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, including more than 2,600 in the demolition of the World Trade Centre towers by Al-Qaeda hijackers.

“The death of Osama Bin Laden is a welcome milestone for the friends and families of those killed on 9/11, and for all who remain tenaciously engaged in protecting New York from another attack,” said New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in a statement.

Germany

The death of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is “good news” for all who love peace, but his demise does not mean “terrorism” has been defeated, Germany’s foreign minister said.

“Osama bin Laden was one of the world’s most brutal terrorists. He has the lives of thousands of innocent people on his conscience,” Guido Westerwelle said in a statement.

“It is good news for all the people of the world who love peace and think freely that the bloody work of this terrorist has been stopped.”

Sweden

The world is a better place after the death of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said yesterday.

“A world without Osama Bin Laden is a better world. His hatred was a threat to us all,” Bildt wrote in his blog.

US President Barack Obama announced earlier that Bin Laden was killed in an operation by US special forces near the Pakistan capital Islamabad.

Japan

Japan, a key US ally, welcomed the death of Osama bin Laden and said it would step up security at military bases in case of possible reprisal attacks.

“We welcome this significant progress in counter-terrorism measures, and I pay respect to the efforts by the officials concerned, including those in the US and Pakistan,” said Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

“As a responsible member of the international community, we will continue being thorough in our anti-terrorism measures and making active and responsible contributions to its efforts.”

Turkey

President Abdullah Gul of mainly Muslim Turkey expressed “great satisfaction” yesterday at the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it should serve as an “example”.

“I welcomed his death with great satisfaction,” the President told journalists at the Ankara airport ahead of a state visit to Austria.

Russia

Russia hailed the death of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a great success and vowed to step up its cooperation with the United States in the fight against terror.

“The Kremlin welcomes the serious success the United States achieved in the war against international terrorism,” President Dmitry Medvedev’s press service said in a statement.

“Retribution inevitably reaches all terrorists,” it added in comments that echoed those made by US President Barack Obama when he announced the Al-Qaeda leader’s death in a White House address.

Russia’s then-President Vlad-imir Putin was the first leader to telephone his US counterpart George W. Bush and express sympathies over the September 11, 2001 terror attack masterminded by Bin Laden.