Who’s Not Happy That bin Laden’s Dead?

Hamas blasts 'killing of an Arab holy warrior'
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted May 2, 2011 7:03 PM CDT
Hamas, Others Slam Osama Bin Laden's Killing
Gazan Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speaks at his office in Gaza City, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Reaction to Osama bin Laden's death is pouring in from around the world—and not everybody's cheering, Reuters reports:

  • Hamas: “We condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior,” said Ismail Haniyeh, the group’s leader in the Gaza Strip. “We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.”

  • Pervez Musharraf: Pakistan’s former president said the US had violated “our sovereignty” by carrying out the mission, Politico reports. “The Pakistani government should have been kept in the loop.” Still, the country’s foreign ministry applauded the killing.
  • The Vatican: "In front of the death of man, a Christian never rejoices but rather reflects on the grave responsibility of each one in front of God and men," said a spokesman, according to CNN. He did acknowledge that bin Laden spread "division and hatred."
  • Civilians in Ramallah, in the West Bank, offered mixed views. One woman hoped the news was false: “God willing, he will continue to conquer the West,” she said. Another Palestinian called the killing “a very criminal act.” But others approved: “His heinous actions were exploited to allow hostile policies toward the Arabs and Muslims,” one says.
(More Osama bin Laden stories.)

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