Washington: The US Senate has doubled the bounty on the head of Osama bin Laden to $50 million in the wake of intelligence reports that al Qaeda has regained much of its capability and could launch a terror attack in the United States.
The Bill raising the price on Laden's head was passed by an overwhelming 87-1 vote. It authorised a reward of "$50 million for the capture or death or information leading to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden."
The White House has had no formal reaction to the Senate vote. In order for the Bill to become law, it would have to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the President.
The Senate legislation also mandates the administration to give information to Congress every 90 days on the hunt for bin Laden.
"There should not be one square inch on this planet" that is safe for bin Laden, Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan said. "It has been six years, and al Qaeda is now rebuilding its terrorist training camps, along with the Taliban, in a safe harbour. They are reconstituting their ability to attack us," he said.
But the lone Kentucky Republican who voted against raising the bounty money, Jim Bunning, said that getting al Qaeda leaders was already a 'top' priority even without the increased monetary incentive.
"If Senator Dorgan truly supported our efforts to fight al Qaeda, he would not support withdrawing from Iraq, a key battleground against al Qaeda and in the war on terror," Bunning said.
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