Is bin Laden dead? DNA may answer

WASHINGTON -- The government is seeking samples of DNA from Osama bin Laden's family to determine if human remains found in Afghanistan belong to the terrorist leader, the Associated Press reported Wednesday, citing law enforcement and other U.S. officials it did not name.

Remains have been collected from a number of locations, including the site of a Feb. 4 Predator missile strike on a meeting of suspected al-Qaida leaders, according to an AP source. The government has been seeking the DNA samples from bin Laden's family for months and stepped up the effort after the CIA's Predator strike.

It is unclear exactly what avenues are being used. A State Department official said no request for DNA from bin Laden's family was delivered to Saudi Arabia through State Department channels.

In theory, it wouldn't take much of a sample. A blood specimen, a scraping from the inside of the mouth, even a hair follicle could provide enough DNA for a match.

Who from bin Laden's family might provide a sample is also unclear, although there are many candidates. While Osama bin Laden is believed to be the only child of the union of Mohammed Awad bin Laden and a Syrian woman, he has dozens of half-brothers and half-sisters.

Samples from his mother's side of the family could provide the most certain match, though those from his father's side could provide a close match as well.

Bin Laden's father, who is dead, had 54 children by several wives. The family runs a prominent construction conglomerate based in Saudi Arabia and has publicly disowned Osama bin Laden.

A New York spokesman for that part of bin Laden's family, Tim Metz, said he was unaware of the government making any formal request to family members for samples. He suggested samples could be obtained from hospitals or other sources.

Bin Laden's mother apparently now has little association with the family. She is believed to live in Saudi Arabia.

Requests for DNA samples may be a culturally sensitive matter in Saudi Arabia, where family privacy is important.

U.S. officials suspect the three people killed by a Feb. 4 Predator missile strike in the Zawar Kili area of eastern Afghanistan were terrorists. Some Afghans say the strike killed innocent scavengers.

The U.S. officials say the heavy security and deferential treatment given a central figure suggest it may have been an al-Qaida leadership meeting.

On Wednesday, Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military has obtained DNA samples from remains at the strike site, but he did not know if the government has sought DNA from bin Laden's family.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright