Omar, Osama bin Laden's son, claims he was invited by then president George Bush in an attempt to find the world's most wanted terrorist
Omar, Osama Bin Laden's son, claims he was invited by then president George Bush in an attempt to find the world's most wanted terrorist
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Omar believes that his father is still alive but says he hasn't been in contact with him
"They invited me to accompany them to the White House, offered to defend, help and protect me, on the condition that I helped them find my father," he said to a Spanish daily, in an interview.
But the 29-year-old said he refused because of filial duty. "I told them I was sorry but it wasn't something I could do. He is my father and I am his son, and as is the way the son must love and respect his father," he said, adding, "Even if in many cases a man may be against the ideas of his father."
But the son who was once groomed to take over from Laden later admitted that he had had no contact with his father for almost a decade.
The younger Laden claims to have renounced violence and walked away from his father's compound in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan, months before the attacks on September 11, 2001. "Since I was at his side I have not received any messages from my father," he admitted.
During the years, Omar married a British woman, who converted to Islam and changed her name from Jane Felix-Browne to Zaina.
The couple married in 2007 but separated last year reportedly after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The split came several weeks after it emerged that a surrogate mother was carrying twins for the couple. The pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
Omar bin Laden is now offering his services as a Middle East peace envoy. Asked if he thought his father was dead or alive he answered, "I do not know, but I think he's alive."
A White House spokesperson said no comment would be made on activities carried out under the previous administration. "We cannot provide any insight as to whether such a thing happened or not."u00a0
Omar bin Laden is Osama's fourth son. As a teenager, he was considered his father's chosen successor but gave up on violence
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