Bin Laden, blamed by the US for the 9/11 attacks, was killed by US forces in Pakistan.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as "a great success".

Bin Laden, blamed by the US for the 9/11 attacks, was killed by US forces in Pakistan.

"The news that Osama Bin Laden is dead will bring great relief to people across the world," Mr Cameron said in a statement hours after the news was confirmed by US President Barack Obama.

He said it was "a time to remember all those murdered" by Bin Laden.

Bin Laden was top of the US "most wanted" list, and President Obama said his death was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda".

Mr Cameron congratulated Mr Obama and others responsible for carrying out the operation.

"Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen - for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British," Mr Cameron said.

"It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror."

In the attacks in New York and Washington on 9 September, 2001, 67 Britons were among the 3,000 people killed when four planes were hijacked and flown into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

Following his death, the US put its embassies around the world on alert, warning Americans of the possibility of al-Qaeda reprisal attacks for Bin Laden's killing.

Mr Cameron also thanked "all those who work round the clock to keep us safe from terrorism. Their work will continue."

Responding to news of bin Laden's death, a senior Labour Party source said: "Few will mourn the death of a man who caused misery for millions.

"Today is a day for remembering both his victims and for redoubling our efforts to end the scourge of terrorism across the world."

Bin Laden evaded the forces of the US and its allies for almost a decade, despite a $25m (£15m) bounty on his head.