Online supporters of bin Laden appear angry: expert

Online supporters of bin Laden appear angry: expert

CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Online supporters of head of al-Qaida Osama bin Laden reacted with confusion, sadness, and oftenanger following the news that bin Laden is dead, AustraliaAssociated Press quoted a U.S. expert as reporting on Tuesday.

A researcher at Brandeis University of the United States AaronZelin has been monitoring Internet discussion in six languages,including English, Arabic, Urdu and Indonesian since theannouncement of bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. forces inPakistan.

Zelin said much of the discussion related to whether bin Ladenwas actually dead.

"Many are skeptical due to the lack of evidence, and they arewaiting to hear from 'mujahideen' sources," Zelin told AustraliaAssociated Press on Tuesday.

"Some are inciting violence, even if the threats are most likelyempty rhetoric."

However, Zelin said there was also evidence that in the shortterm al-Qaida forces in Pakistan would remain calm.

However, he said al-Qaida forces in the Arabian Peninsula wouldstep up their actions, and the American mainland was the most likelytarget for an al-Qaida reprisal attack.

"In terms of location (for reprisals), it's hard to predict that,but one would imagine they would want to try and strike the U.S.homeland to send a message," Zelin said.

"Whether that comes to be, we'll have to wait and see."

Zelin said the Internet discussion also talk about whether or notbin Laden died at the hands of U.S. forces or natural causes.