Osama Bin Laden death

US President Barack Obama has hailed the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden as a "good day for America," saying the world is now a safer and a better place.

Bin Laden was killed in a raid by US special forces on a compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.

He is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001, as well as a number of other deadly bombings.

He topped the US "most wanted" list.

But his details on the list have now been updated with a simple banner indicating his current status: "Deceased".

DNA tests carried out after the operation indicated with "99.9%" certainty that the man shot dead was Osama Bin Laden, US officials said.

He was buried at sea after a Muslim funeral on board an aircraft carrier in the north Arabian Sea, Pentagon officials said.

President Obama has praised the "heroes" who carried out the operations and in a speech to congressional leaders, called for them to show "the same sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11".

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

CIA director Leon Panetta said al-Qaeda would "almost certainly" try to avenge the death of Bin Laden.

The US president's chief counter-terrorism advisor, John Brennan, said that though weakened, al-Qaeda, remained a danger.

"It may be a mortally wounded tiger but it still has some life in it," he said.

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Pakistan defends Bin Laden role

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has denied that the killing of Osama Bin Laden in his country is a sign of its failure to tackle terrorism.

In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, Mr Zardari said his country was "perhaps the world's greatest victim of terrorism".

Bin Laden was shot dead by US forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad - Pakistan was not involved in the raid.

US officials said Bin Laden must have had a support system in Pakistan.

Bin Laden, 54, was the founder and leader of al-Qaeda. He is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001, as well as a number of other deadly bombings.

He was America's most wanted man but had eluded them for more than a decade.

But US officials say they are "99.9%" sure that the man they shot and killed in a raid on a secure compound in Abbottabad and later buried at sea was Bin Laden.

They said a video had been made of Bin Laden's burial but have not said yet whether it, or any photographs of Bin Laden's body, will be released.
'Enormous price'

The compound in Abbottabad is just a few hundred metres from the Pakistan Military Academy - the country's equivalent of West Point or Sandhurst

White House counter-terrorism chief John Brennan said it was "inconceivable that Bin Laden did not have a support system" in Pakistan.

But in his opinion piece, Mr Zardari said Pakistan had "never been and never will be the hotbed of fanaticism that is often described by the media".

"Such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn't reflect fact," he said.

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online royal wedding

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Making a stand against the royal wedding

At the forefront of dissent will be anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, which will hold a Not the Royal Wedding alternative street party in central London during the day of events at Westminster Abbey.

Republic will be "celebrating democracy and people power rather than inherited privilege".

The group is also behind a similar event at a pub in Manchester, and is publicising anti-monarchy plays to be performed in Cardiff and South Shields.

'Publicity stunt'
Graham Smith, spokesman for Republic, told the BBC News website: "We need to get across the fact that the whole country isn't interested in the royal wedding and a sizeable minority is against the monarchy. We need to raise awareness of this issue.

"We're turning it around the other way because we see the wedding as a stunt by the monarchy. They're putting on the wedding on this scale as a PR stunt.

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Timetable (BST) on 29 April

1015 - The groom and Prince Harry arrive at Westminster Abbey
1051 - The bride, and her father, leave the Goring Hotel for the abbey
1100 - The marriage service begins
1230 - The bride's carriage procession arrives at Buckingham Palace
1325 - The Queen and the bride and groom appear on the balcony
1330 - Fly past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Royal Wedding timings
"We have a responsibility to the many people in this country who oppose the monarchy to make a point."

The London event was initially blocked by Camden Council - after businesses raised concerns about loss of trade - and was switched from Earlham Street in Covent Garden to nearby Red Lion Square in Holborn.

Elsewhere, Islamist group Muslims Against Crusades said it had dropped plans to protest after its application for an event outside Westminster Abbey was rejected.

Nationalist group the English Defence League (EDL) had threatened to hold a counter-demonstration if the police granted permission to Muslims Against Crusades.

The EDL has since said no counter-protest will be held.

Meanwhile, a separate protest group with Middle Eastern links has warned police it is planning disruptions, after a man walked into a London police station to formally apply for permission to demonstrate.

Bail bans
Police have powers to ban any major protests along the main route the royal couple will take but are unable to rule out "static" protests taking place at other nearby locations.

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“
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The anachronistic absurdity of Britain's royal family, with its vast inherited wealth and theoretical power cannot be touched”

Steve Richards
The Independent
Commentators question monarchy
Scotland Yard has warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the royal wedding would face a "robust" response.

There will be 5,000 officers on duty to ensure it is a "safe, secure and happy event".

Some 60 people who were arrested following violence surrounding the recent student and TUC marches will be banned from central London on the day as part of their bail conditions.

Six people have been arrested in recent days amid fears they could be planning similar disruption and police were expected to make several more arrests.

Commander Christine Jones, who is in charge of the police operation, said: "We would be wrong not to consider spontaneous protest as part of our contingency planning.

"But let us make it absolutely clear - this is a day of celebration, joy and pageantry. It is a fantastic day for Britain.

"Any criminals attempting to disrupt it, be that in the guise of protest or otherwise, will be met by a robust, decisive, flexible and proportionate policing response

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William greets fans ahead of wedding

Prince William has gone on an impromptu walkabout ahead of his wedding to Kate Middleton to meet royal watchers gathered near Buckingham Palace.

He spent several minutes shaking hands, chatting and posing for pictures telling the well-wishers: "All I've got to do is get the lines right."

The couple say they have been "incredibly moved" by public reaction.

In a message in their official wedding programme they thanked "everyone most sincerely for their kindness".

During Friday's Westminster Abbey ceremony Miss Middleton will vow to "love, comfort, honour and keep" Prince William but will not vow to obey him.

The service will be the epitome of "Britishness", St James's Palace said.

VisitBritain has predicted more than 600,000 people will be on the streets to watch Friday's events and several hundred are already camping out in tents and sleeping bags outside the abbey and in The Mall.

'All ready'
Prince William, who is spending the evening with the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry, emerged from his London home Clarence House to walk to The Mall at about 2030 BST.

Some of the the crowd were spending the night on the street and the prince asked them about their preparations.

Earlier, the Duchess of Cornwall also met some of the fans in The Mall.

She described Prince William and Miss Middleton as being "all ready" for their big day and said the Royal Family were "very excited".

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Guide to the occasion


How to watch the day's events
Explore Westminster Abbey
Seating plan
Route map
Video tour of the route
Weather forecast
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office says the invitation for the Syrian ambassador in London has been withdrawn following reports that up to 400 pro-democracy protesters have been killed in Syria by security forces in recent weeks.

A Foreign Office statement said: "Buckingham Palace shares the view of the Foreign Office that it is not considered appropriate for the Syrian ambassador to attend the wedding."

Earlier on Thursday Miss Middleton took part in her last rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, with best man Prince Harry, the bridesmaids and pageboys.

Miss Middleton and her family are gathering at the Goring Hotel in Belgravia.

She arrived at the hotel at about 1745 BST accompanied by her mother and sister and stood outside for a short while as photographers took pictures.

Some 50 foreign heads of state are among the 1,900 invited guests attending the wedding.



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Middletons arrive at London hotel
The Queen has been hosting an event for British and foreign royals at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, near Hyde Park, in central London.

But it has emerged that she will leave for a weekend away after hosting the wedding day lunchtime reception, giving over Buckingham Palace for William and Kate's black tie party in the evening.

It means the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will miss Prince Harry's best man's speech and Michael Middleton's father-of-the-bride address.

Music choices
In their official wedding programme released on Thursday, the royal couple's message reads: "We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives.

"The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply.


The wedding ceremony will be the epitome of "Britishness", St James's Palace says
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness."

Details of the order of service were also released.

The bride will walk up the aisle to coronation anthem I Was Glad, by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, from Psalm 122.

It was composed for the crowning of Prince William's great-great-great grandfather, Edward VII, at Westminster Abbey in 1902.

The couple have chosen to use the Series One (1966) Book of Common Prayer ceremony.

Classical compositions by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams will feature during the ceremony, alongside the hymn Jerusalem and the English melody Greensleeves.

St James's Palace said many of the "stunning" pieces were chosen by the royal couple for their "theatre".

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Miss Middleton's parents - Carole and Michael Middleton - her sister Pippa and her brother James will all act as witnesses and sign the marriage registers.

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Royal wedding: William and Kate set for Abbey service

Royal wedding
Prince greets fans before wedding
Syria ambassador off wedding list
Well-wishers gather at palace
Straw surprise at wedding 'snub'
Crowds are gathering in central London for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

The first of the 1,900 guests will arrive from 0815 BST, with the ceremony itself getting under way at 1100.

Thousands of people have camped out overnight on the procession route the couple will take to Buckingham Palace.

William will wear the red tunic of an Irish Guards colonel - his most senior honorary appointment - but the bride's dress design is being kept secret.

The Met Office says the day will start off dry but cloudy in London but there is a risk of heavy showers developing later on.

On Thursday night, Prince William went on an impromptu walkabout to meet royal watchers who had thronged to The Mall, near the palace.

He spent several minutes shaking hands, chatting and posing for pictures telling well-wishers: "All I've got to do is get the lines right."

William spent Thursday evening with the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry, while Miss Middleton and her family gathered at the Goring Hotel, in Belgravia, a short distance from Westminster Abbey.

BBC reporters at the scene estimated between 3,000-5,000 people had been camping overnight in The Mall and around Westminster Abbey, with more than 600,000 expected to line the streets by the time of the service. About two square miles of central London have been closed to traffic.

Scotland Yard says 5,000 officers will be on duty, with more than 900 along the wedding route. Most will be in uniform, but some will be in plain clothes, mixing with the crowd.

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Guide to the occasion


Schedule for the day
How to watch the day's events
Explore Westminster Abbey
Who's who at the wedding
Seating plan
Route map
Video tour of the route
London travel tips
Weather forecast
Elsewhere in the UK more than 5,500 street parties are taking place - including one hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street and another by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic.

After the service, five carriages drawn by mounted troops of the Household Cavalry will carry the newlyweds, the Royal Family and the Middleton family on the 15-minute journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

The route will take them past the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street and, under rows of Union Jacks, along The Mall, to Buckingham Palace, where the couple will appear on the balcony at about 1325 BST.

Royal officials said William and Kate have been involved in planning their wedding day, from the music at the ceremony to the flowers and the cake.

Inside Westminster Abbey itself, six field maples and two hornbeams will line the aisle leading up to the altar.



Click to play

William spent several minutes talking to fans on a walkabout ahead of the wedding...
Some 650 guests have been invited to the palace for a buffet lunch and about 300 close friends and relatives will stay on for formal black tie dinner and disco in the evening.

But the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will leave for a weekend away after hosting the lunchtime reception and will miss Prince Harry's best man speech and Michael Middleton's father of the bride address.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the wedding ceremony, which will see Miss Middleton vow to "love, comfort, honour and keep" Prince William but not to obey him.

The couple have chosen royal warrant holders Wartski to make the wedding ring for Miss Middleton. Following a long tradition of royal weddings, it has been fashioned by the Bangor-founded firm from Welsh gold given to Prince William by the Queen.

In their official wedding programme released on Thursday, the royal couple said: "We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives.



Click to play

...as Miss Middleton and her family gathered at the Goring hotel
"The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply."

Prince William's choice of a military uniform for his wedding is something of a surprise, royal watchers say. As a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, many had predicted he would wear his blue flight lieutenant's uniform.

However, as an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards infantry regiment, he has opted to wear the red tunic and forage cap, fitted by military and civilian tailors Kashket and Partners.

Prince Harry is a captain in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals regiment and will wear his uniform, while Prince Charles will be in his Royal Navy admiral's outfit.

The bride will walk up the aisle to coronation anthem I Was Glad, by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, from Psalm 122.

Continue reading the main story
Timetable (BST) on 29 April

1015 - The groom and Prince Harry arrive at Westminster Abbey
1051 - The bride, and her father, leave the Goring Hotel for the abbey
1100 - The marriage service begins
1230 - The bride's carriage procession arrives at Buckingham Palace
1325 - The Queen and the bride and groom appear on the balcony
1330 - Fly past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Royal Wedding timings
It was composed for the crowning of Prince William's great-great-great grandfather, Edward VII, at Westminster Abbey in 1902.

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UK recovery subdued for two years, says OECD

UK high street The OECD said the UK economy has become out of balance partly thanks to too much borrowing.
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UK Economy

* Jobless total hits 17-year high
* Further fall in Scottish jobless
* Report warns of housing shortage
* Rate rise 'could derail recovery'

The UK economic recovery will remain subdued for two years, with government spending cuts and slowing world trade weighing down growth, a report says.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated growth this year of 1.5%, rising to 2% in 2012.

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast is for 1.9% growth this year.

The OECD called the government's cuts "ambitious and necessary".

It said they were needed in order to achieve a sustainable recovery.

The wording is slightly different to a previous OECD report on the UK economy, when it called them "substantial but necessary".

The body, which is known to consult the governments of the countries it monitors, also suggested that interest rates should remain low.

The OECD warned that strong economic growth in the run-up to the 2008-09 recession had hidden a build-up of "significant imbalances", creating an over-reliance on the financial sector, booming asset prices and too much borrowing.

Spending cuts were needed to address these imbalances, it argued.
Reforms

It also said that reforms to the housing market should be made, with the aim of lowering asset prices and increasing affordability.
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The [OECD] report reserves its sharpest language for the state of the UK housing market - and the planning regime”

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image of Stephanie Flanders Stephanie Flanders Economics editor, BBC News

* Read Stephanie's blog

Education, too, should be reformed, to focus resources more on disadvantaged children.

The organisation, which gathers data on countries to further its aim of stimulating economic progress and world trade, said: "Monetary policy should remain expansionary, even if headline inflation is significantly above target, to support the economy.

"All in all, a subdued recovery is expected over the next two years."

The Chancellor, George Osborne, said the OECD report was a validation of his government's plans for the country: "The Budget [on March 23] will echo what I see as the central message of this OECD report. This government has set the right course for the British economy but we have so much more to do."

However Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said he thought the OECD report was further evidence that government economic policy was on the wrong track.

"In the real world the evidence is mounting that his reckless plan to cut deeper and faster than any other major economy in the world isn't working," Mr Balls said.

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