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U.S. Government Seeking DNA Samples from bin Laden's Family
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
By John J. Lumpkin
Associated Press Writer

The Feb. 4 Predator missile strike killed three people suspected by United States of being senior bin Laden operatives, but some Afghans say the strike killed innocents, not terrorists.

WASHINGTON -- AP
The U.S. 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, government sources said Wednesday.

Human remains have been collected from a number of U.S. airstrike sites, including the site of a Feb. 4 CIA Predator missile strike on a meeting of suspected al-Qaida leaders, the sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials have been seeking the DNA samples from bin Laden's family for months, but recently stepped up the effort following the Predator strike, one source said.

The wealthy bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia has disowned the terrorist leader.
(More: The Star-Telegram News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan