CLAIM : OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD

DIED FROM TYPHOID ON AUGUST 23

The story so far : Osama Bin Laden contracted typhoid, a water-borne illness, sometime in early August. He was hiding out in Pakistan. He grew seriously ill. Being the most wanted man in the world, and one of the most famous, he was concerned about seeking medical attention and died on August 23.

This information was contained in a 'defence secret' report from the French intelligence services, based on information provided by Saudi intelligence sources, which was leaked to a French newspaper.

French President Jacques Chirac, and the most senior members of the French government, were briefed on the 'defence secret' report on Thursday, but now Chirac is denying knowing whether or not Bin Laden is actually dead.

The French government has launched an inquiry into who leaked the report to the French newspaper.

Curiously, Chirac is not denying that there is a report seen by him that says Bin Laden is dead, and that it was was leaked. He told journalists today, "this information is in no way confirmed."

He was speaking at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I am a little surprised that a confidential DGSE (French foreign intelligence service) note should be published," Chirac (said)...

The leaked French report (based on Saudi reports) claimed that Bin Laden "might have succumbed to a very serious case of typhoid fever resulting in partial paralysis of his lower limbs while in Pakistan on August 23, 2006.

"His geographic isolation provoked by constant fleeing is believed to have made medical assistance impossible (and) on September 4, 2006, the Saudi security services received preliminary information of his death."

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