By PAUL HAVEN, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago
Osama bin Laden may no longer have operational control of his terror network, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan told a gathering of local journalists Monday, according to two Pakistani television channels.
Ryan Crocker was quoted as saying bin Laden cannot communicate with his followers because he is likely hiding in a very remote area, Pakistan's Geo Television and state-run PTV reported after the meeting.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Peter Kovach, who was at the gathering, confirmed the substance of the news reports. He said the comments were made at a lunch for senior Pakistani journalists.
Neither station broadcast a tape of the remarks, and Kovach said he had no recording either.
According to Geo, Crocker also doubted suggestions that Egyptian al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri had effective control of the terror group, saying that the fact he issues occasional video and audio taped statements does not prove anything.
Crocker said he had no confirmation of the killing in northwestern Pakistan of al-Qaida leader Hamza Rabia, though he added that he had no reason to doubt assurances by Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf that the man was dead.
Rabia reportedly died in a Dec. 1 explosion in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region along with two other alleged Syrian body guards. Pakistani officials said the blast was caused by bomb making activities.
Local residents say Rabia died in a missile attack and parts of what appeared to be a missile were found at the site, but neither Pakistani nor American officials have confirmed that version.
Crocker's comments follow similar ones last week by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki bin al-Faisal.
Turki, a former director of the Saudi intelligence service, said he believes that bin Laden is alive but that there is some question about whether he is still the leader of al-Qaida. Bin Laden has not been heard from since an audio last December.
Musharraf said last week that he did not know whether bin Laden was dead or alive, and would not speculate.
