Senate doubles Laden bounty to $50 million
Afp, Washington
The US Senate Friday doubled the bounty on Osama bin Laden to 50 million dollars, reflecting frustration that the Al-Qaeda mastermind remains free and rising anxiety over possible future attacks. The vote followed a flurry of reports that the group behind the September 11 strikes in 2001 had rebuilt its safe haven, leadership and capacity to plot terror operations, and was trying to sneak operatives into the United States. The Senate voted by 87-1 to boost the price on bin Laden's head under the State Department Rewards for Justice programme, which has already paid out millions of dollars for top US targets, including Saddam Hussein's sons. It directs Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "to authorize a reward of 50 million dollars for the capture or death or information leading to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden."
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