Bin Laden may be dead, says Zardari

Pakistan's president says his intelligence agencies believe Osama bin Laden may be dead. But he added there's no proof. Meanwhile, other Pakistani officials and a US counter terrorism official say they think the al-Qaida chief is still alive.

International media outlets interviewed Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday. During the interview, he offered his assessment of Bin Laden's whereabouts.

Asif Ali Zardari said, My own intelligence is of the same opinion -- that there is no news. They obviously feel that he does not exist any more. But that's not confirmed, so we can't confirm that.

Zardari says American officials have told him they do not know where bin Laden is. But U.S. officials do say bin Laden is most likely hiding in the mountains along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

The latest purported recording from Bin laden emerged in March. But the authenticity of that recorded speech can not be verified.

Meanwhile, Taliban militants are declaring their peace deal with the Pakistani government worthless. This comes after authorities deployed helicopters and artillery against hide-outs for Islamist guerrillas.

The Pakistani military has justified the operation. They say the insurgents have plunged the Dir area into lawlessness. Especially by attacking security forces and abducting prominent people for ransom.

A spokesman for the Taliban in their Swat Valley stronghold has denounced the Pakistani military operation. He said the attack is a violation of the pact. He says the Taliban fighters will stay on alert... waiting to see if the cleric who mediated the deal rescinds the deal.