World's most dreaded terrorist Osama bin Laden was shot dead today in a pre-dawn helicopter-borne secret US operation in a house just yards away from Pakistan's Military Academy in Abbottabad. Four US helicopters carrying special forces personnel swooped down on a million dollar compound near an upscale town, 120 kms north of Pakistani capital Islamabad, and shot dead the 54-year-old al-Qaeda chief in a swift operation which lasted only 40 minutes. The operation climaxed an almost 10-year long massive worldwide manhunt for Osama, who US believes is the mastermind of the 2001 9/11 attacks. The world's most wanted terrorist was found living in a fortress-like two-storey house in Abbottabad,far away from remote mountain caves where most intelligence estimates put him in recent years.The news of the killing of the world's most prominent terror mastermind was broken to the world by US President Barack Obama, who made the announcement live from White House.Besides the al-Qaeda chief, who carried a bounty of 25 million US Dollars, two couriers, one of whom was his son and the other a woman, reportedly used as a human shields, were killed in the operation, US officials said, adding it was through these couriers that bin Laden had been traced.Hours after they had shot him down, US officials said bin Laden was buried at sea, apparently over fears that his land burial may become a site to attract his followers. The officials, however, did not specify the place or the sea where the al-Qaeda chief's burial was carried out.The US did not notify its ally Pakistan about the operation, citing maintaining complete secrecy as the reason.Born in 1957, Laden was the son of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest construction magnate. He created and funded the al Qaeda terror network, was accused of being behind a number of atrocities, including the attacks on New Yorks World Trade Centre and Washington on 11 September 2001. Osama was suspected of playing large roles in the 1998 bombings of two US Embassies in Africa and the attack on the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden in October 2000. The Saudi exile had been on the run since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan overthrew the ruling Taliban regime, which harboured bin Laden.The French President, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy has praised the United States for its tenacity in hunting down Osama bin Laden calling it a major event in the world's struggle against terrorism. Britain and Russia also welcomed the news while in Kenya, the target of Al Qaeda attacks more than a decade ago, Prime Minister Raila Odinga described the news as positive.Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel joins the American people on this historic day of the elimination of Osama Bin Laden. In a statement received by AIR in Dubai today, the Israeli Prime Minister congratulating the US President Barack Obama and America's military and its intelligence services for this great accomplishment has said that it is a resounding victory for justice, freedom and the common values of all democracies that are resolutely fighting shoulder to shoulder against terrorism.Saudi Arabia has said that elimination of Al-Qaeda leader is a step towards supporting international efforts to combat terrorism and dismantle its cells. Country’s official news agency quoting official source has said that the elimination of deviant thought that stands behind him will help the international fight against terrorism. The statement added that people of the Saudi Kingdom were among those targeted most by this terrorist . Meanwhile, Iraq's army and police is on high alert for possible revenge attacks in the country. Al Qaeda militants became a significant force in the violence that ravaged Iraq after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam.Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the news of Osama bin Laden's death was welcome, but cautioned that while Al-Qaeda has been hurt today, Al-Qaeda is not finished. War against terrorism must continue. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Laden's death was good news for all men in the world who think freely and are peaceful. Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini called it a victory of good over evil, of justice over cruelty. Singapore, which sits in a region where the Al-Qaeda-inspired Jemaah Islamiyah have carried out a number of large-scale fatal attacks, also cautioned that bin Laden's demise did not mean the world was safe.Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said in an interview that the US killing of Osama bin Laden, not far from the Pakistani capital, is a great victory. Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used against any other country for terrorism, he said. Asked about the extent to which Pakistan cooperated in the operation, Mr. Gilani said he did not know the details.