Bin Laden 'unarmed' when killed

US hesitates to release 'gruesome' photo of al-Qaida leader's body

WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden was unarmed when US special forces shot and killed him, the White House said.

The revelation that bin Laden was unarmed appeared to contradict an earlier account from a US security official that the al-Qaida leader "participated" in a firefight with the helicopter-borne American commandos.