UN Security Council Welcomes Bin Laden Death

The United Nations Security Council issued a statement late this afternoon, welcoming Osama Bin Laden’s death and calling on member states to increase cooperation in their fight against terrorism. 

 French Ambassador Gerrard Araud, whose country holds the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May, read the statement of behalf members in a special open session, reiterating the international community’s condemnation of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda attacks on innocent civilians around the world. 

 “The Security Council welcomes the news on May 1st 2011, that Osama Bin Laden will never be able to perpetrate such acts of terrorism. “ read Araud.

 “The Security Council recognizes this critical development and other accomplishments  made in the fight against terrorism and urges all states to remain vigilant  and intensify their efforts in the fight against terrorism.”

Obama Visits The United Nations

President Barak Obama will be at the United Nations in New York this afternoon to attend the dedication of the new US mission building at the UN, named after former Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown . 

 In a prime time television address on the situation in Libya yesterday, President Obama argued that the United Nations mandated intervention called for civilian protection rather than regime change, but that the US would work with its allies at the UN to find a political solution that could precipitate Gaddafi’s departure. 

 President Obama also said he would provide assistance to Libyan opposition group. This will likely become a heated topic at the UN over the next few weeks, as several prominent Security Council members have already said that in their view ,the resolution does not allow for the arming of rebels.