BREAKING NEWS: The White House has agreed to release graphic images of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden’s body in response to worldwide demands for proof of the Al Qaeda leader’s death.

U.S. President Barack Obama (who many believe is Muslim) was very hesitant to release any images of Osama’s body which might upset and inflame Muslims around the world.

According to Drudgereport.com:

WHITE HOUSE TO RELEASE BIN LADEN DEATH PHOTO
Tue May 03 2011 10:22:50 ET

President Obama decided Tuesday morning to release at least one photo showing Osama Bin Laden’s death, a top source claims.

The images, being described as ‘graphic’, are bound to stir emotions in the east and the west, and will likely become the most viewed photographs in modern history.

One image shows a bullet wound to his head above his left eye.

Will it remove all doubt about the death?

The exact timing on the release is being debated.

Developing…

The decision to give bin Laden a respectful Muslim burial was made by Obama even before Navy SEALS stormed bin Laden’s heavily fortified hideout near Islamabad, Pakistan early Sunday.

John Brennan, President Obama’s chief counterterrorism adviser, said yesterday evening that Obama had not decided whether to release any photos or videos.

“We are going to do everything we can to make sure that nobody has any basis to try to deny that we got Osama bin Laden,” Brennan told reporters.

“bin Laden’s corpse was badly disfigured, making it all the more difficult to decide whether to release images, particularly of his face,” said Brennan.

Bin Laden was reportedly shot twice in the head, over the left eye. The rounds blew off part of his head and disfigured his face. But according to government officials, they were able to identify him by what was left of his features.

UPDATE I, 2:28 pm ET:

More details of the 3 sets of bin Laden death photos that the White House were given are as follows:

1. Photos of OBLs body at a hanger after he was brought back to Afghanistan. This is the most recognizable with a clear picture of his face. The picture is gruesome because he has a massive open head wound across both eyes. It’s very bloody and gory.

2. Photos from the burial at sea on the USS Carl Vinson. Photos of OBL before the shroud was put on and then wrapped in the shroud.

3. There are photos of the raid itself that include photos of the two dead brothers, one of OBLs dead son (adult adolescent, maybe approx 18 yrs old) and some of the inside scene of the compound.

The official says the challenge is that the picture that includes the most recognizable image of OBLs face – from the hangar in Afghanistan – is so gruesome and mangled its not appropriate for say the front page of the newspaper. On the other hand, this is the one that is most identifiable as him. Source