First the tears, now the anger: Pakistanis burn U.S. flags as backlash over Bin Laden's death grows

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated: 04:57 EST, 5 May 2011

• Bin Laden had 'extensive support network' in Pakistan, claims Camero
• Pakistan's president: Claims we harboured Bin Laden 'baseless'
  

These were the angry scenes across Pakistan today as Muslims staged protests against the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.

Hundreds of people marched through Multan, burning U.S. flags and waving placards as they warned the terrorist's death could produce many more radical figures to take his place.

It comes after crowds of weeping mourners were pictured offering funeral prayers for the Al Qaeda mastermind widely blamed for thousands of deaths at 9/11.

Hate: Pakistani men burn a U.S. flag during angry protests in the city of Multan. Hundreds marched through the streets in protest at the killing of Osama bin Laden

Warning: The protesters claimed the Al Qaeda mastermind's death would produce many more radical terrorists

Lashkar-e-Taiba - the militants behind the Mumbai terror attack - said today Bin Laden's 'martyrdom' would not be in vain.

As special prayer sessions for Bin Laden were held in towns and cities across Pakistan, a spokesman for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the militant group behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks described the fallen terrorist as a 'great person'.

Yahya Mujahid, spokesman for the leader Mohammad Saeed, said: 'Martyrdoms are not losses, but are a matter of pride for Muslims.

'Osama bin Laden has rendered great sacrifices for Islam and Muslims, and these will always be remembered.'

Grief: Supporters of Janatut Dawa react while offering funeral prayers for terrorist Osama Bin Laden in Karachi

Mourning: Supporters of Jamatut Dawa unite in prayers in Karachi. Prayer sessions were held across Pakistan for Bin Laden

Grieving: As mourners joined funeral prayers in Karachi and across Pakistan, the leader of one militant group described Bin Laden as a 'great person'

Amidst shouts of 'Down with America" and 'Down with Obama', around 1,000 of Saeed's followers held prayers in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi.

LeT, one of the largest and best-funded Islamist militant organisations in South Asia, is blamed for the November 2008 assault on Mumbai, which killed 166 people in India's commercial hub.

Its founder, Saeed, now heads an Islamic charity, a group the United Nations says is a front for the militant group.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied having any links to Al Qaeda, and reacted furiously when the Prime Minister accused it of ‘looking both ways’ on terrorism last year.

Together: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari with Barack Obama at the White House in 2009

A year ago it also vehemently rejected suggestions the some officials may be harbouring Bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar. 

Today, president Asif Ali Zardari insisted it had not given the Al Qaeda chief any protection - dismissing claims otherwise as 'baseless speculation'

'Pakistan had as much reason to despise Al Qaeda as any nation. The war on terrorism is as much Pakistan's war as it is America's,' he said.

He conceded the assassination was not a joint operation between his military and the Americans but said it was based on a decade of co-operation and partnership.

The US had been worried about Pakistani intelligence leaking details of the raid and Bin Laden being tipped off so did not seek permission.

Pakistani officials were only told once the U.S. Navy Seals had recovered the terrorist's body and left the country's airspace.

Pakistan even scrambled its air force to intercept the helicopters but they did not arrive in time to disrupt them.

A Pakistani soldier on duty today at the compound in Abbottabad where Bin Laden was killed

All quiet: Pakistani children going to school in Thanda Choha village, Abbottabad, today

White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan said: 'It is inconceivable that Bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for extended period of time.

'We are going to pursue all leads to find out what kind of support system and benefactors that bin Laden might have had.'

Asked if he felt uneasy about the killing, Mr Cameron said he was satisfied that the operation was aimed at capturing the Al Qaeda leader - but with lethal force allowed if necessary.

'I don't think it is an eye for an eye. This man was responsible for literally thousands of deaths. The world is incomparably a better place without him in it,' he said.

'I think the operation was completely justified, lawful and right. We have to be very vigilant, particularly in the short term, because there will be dangers of reprisals from other parts of Al Qaeda or lone-wolf operators. But it is definitely a massive step forward in breaking the back of Al Qaeda and in defeating this terrorist network.'