Followers of Osama bin Laden flooded Islamist Web sites on Saturday posting messages pledging their devotion to the world's most-wanted man in celebration of his 50th birthday -- even as his whereabouts remains a mystery more than five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Dozens of bin Laden fans posted videos and pictures on the Internet commemorating the elusive al-Qaeda leader's life and renewing their allegiance to him and his terrorist network.
One Web site user, who went by the name of Abu Yacoub, posted an old picture of bin Laden wearing a helmet and khaki military uniform while carrying a two-way radio in a deserted location, possibly from bin Laden's fight in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union two decades ago.
"Today ... Osama bin Laden turns 50. God protect our leader, our Sheik Osama bin Laden. God reward him for his words and actions," Abu Yacoub wrote on an Internet site commonly used by insurgents.
Another message titled the "Manhattan invasion" featured old footage of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the wills of the hijackers. Other messages included a poem describing one follower's dedication to bin Laden.
The authenticity of the Islamist Web site messages could not be verified. And like most things involving bin Laden, his exact birth date remains a mystery. GlobalSecurity.org, Virginia-based think tank, said bin Laden, who was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was either born on March 10, 1957 or July 30 of the same year.
The FBI just lists that he was born in 1957.
Major William Mitchell, a spokesman for US troops in Afghanistan, rejected attempts to celebrate bin Laden's birthday.
"We certainly don't want to celebrate the lives of people who have shown such little regard for the lives of innocent people around the world," Mitchell said.
"Instead of focusing on the anniversary of his birth, people around the world -- and particularly the people here in Afghanistan -- should take a moment to remember the innocent people who have been killed or injured by terrorist extremists like Osama bin Laden," he said.
Speculation over whether bin Laden is dead or alive has been swirling for years as the most publicized manhunt in history has come up empty.
He is believed to be holed up in the lawless border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the rugged mountains on the border area or inside Afghanistan itself in the remote forested eastern province of Nuristan and Kunar.
The last time bin Laden appeared in a video was Oct. 29, 2004 to warn the people of the US and administration to stop meddling in Arab and Muslim affairs.
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