Israeli leaders have been speaking about the significance of President Barack Obama’s announcement that Osama bin Laden has been killed by US forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a "resounding triumph for justice, freedom and the values shared by all democratic nations fighting shoulder to shoulder in determination against terrorism".

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman described the al-Qaida leader as the most dangerous man in the world and paid tribute to the fact that the US never gave up on their 11-year quest to find him.

He added: "It is too early to tell exactly what influence bin Laden's death will have but al Qaida is built on a structure that is spread out all over the world, therefore there will be some sort of influence."

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni said: "Israel is a partner to the free world's values and the fight against terror, and the struggle to preserve those values and praises the American people for this monumental achievement."

Bin Laden was killed in a ground operation outside Islamabad based on US intelligence, the first lead for which emerged last August, Mr Obama told Americans in a televised address this morning.

He said US forces took possession of his body after what he described as "a firefight".

Bin Laden was accused of being behind a number of atrocities, including the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.