Possibility of catching Osama bin Laden alive simply does not exist: US Attorney General

Washington, Mar. 17 : US Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the possibility of America catching Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden alive 'simply doesn't exist.'

"Based on the intelligence I've reviewed, the possibility simply does not exist. He will be killed by us or he will be killed by his own people so that he is not captured alive," Holder said. "We know that," the Christian Science Monitor quoted Holder as telling a House appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday.

His statement came amid a salvo of criticism by Republicans who accused the Obama administration of a lackluster approach to terrorism.

Amid hostile questioning, the attorney general also pledged that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would never be released from US custody.

He made the assertion after being asked what the administration would do if a civilian judge ordered Mohammed released.

"If that were to be the case, he would not be released. I am not qualifying it. He would not be released," Holder said.

The comment seems to contradict the administration's announced rationale for holding public trials for Mohammed and other terror suspects in civilian courts.