Several hundred militants held a memorial service for bin Laden in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area on Monday despite a heavy army presence in the region, said a Pakistani intelligence official and a local tribal chief, Ghanam Shah Wazir.
South Waziristan used to be the Pakistani Taliban's main sanctuary before the military launched a large ground offensive there in 2009.
The army allowed the service to take place because it was led by Maulvi Nazir, a militant commander who has focused his attacks on Afghanistan and is believed to have a peace deal with the Pakistani government, said the intelligence official and tribal chief.
But Wazir quoted Nazir as saying that militants would retaliate for bin Laden's death with attacks in both Pakistan and the West.
Monday's service took place in the main bazaar in Wana, the largest town in South Waziristan, the two officials. It was attended by at least 500 people, more than half of whom were militants. They shouted "Down with America, long live Osama" and also hurled insults at Pakistani leaders.
But then, a government that could fake the moon landings could surely gin up 500 fake Taliban in a remote part of Pakistan, or just arrange for the AP to report it.
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