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WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) -- U.S. officials are concerned that releasing graphic photos of a dead Osama bin Laden will inflame Islamic sentiment, but they want to debunk any stories about his still being alive. Officials say the photos show the al Qaida leader shot in the head, with a part of his skull missing.

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Osama bin Laden is dead, putting an end to the worldwide manhunt that began nearly a decade ago on Sept. 11, 2001. The architect of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil was killed a week ago inside Pakistan by a U.S. bomb.

President Obama announced the stunning development during an address to the nation late Sunday night from the White House.

“Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda.”

The U.S. had been waiting for the results of a DNA test to confirm his identity before going public. Sources said the Vice President informed congressional leaders late Sunday night that the world’s most wanted man had indeed been killed.

The announcement comes 9 years, 7 months, and 20 days after the 2001 terror attacks which triggered the Afghanistan war and started a tireless hunt for the terrorist mastermind and Al Qaeda leader.

In recent years, that hunt had increasingly led U.S. intelligence across the border and into Pakistan, where Al Qaeda is thought to be concentrated.  The President said once intelligence confirmed that Bin Laden was in Pakistan in hiding, he made the direct order for the U.S. military to attack.

No Americans were hurt during the killing of Bin Laden.  During the Sunday night speech, President Barack Obama stated  "Osama Bin Laden has been killed by the U.S. Military".

In light of bin Laden’s death, authorities around the world are being urged to take security precautions. One source said officials are concerned Bin Laden’s death could incite violence or terrorist acts against U.S. personnel overseas.

-Fox News

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)