Price on Osama's head doubled by US

WASHINGTON: The US Senate, disturbed over a flurry of reports this week about an upsurge in terrorism, Friday doubled the price on the head of Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the worst attack ever on US soil.

The Senate called for a reward of 50 million dollars for the "capture, or information leading to the capture", of the Al Qaeda leader.

The move was part of an amendment to the defence authorisation bill at the heart of a dispute with the White House over the course of the war in Iraq. The House of Representatives would also have to approve the increased fine for it to enter into law.

Despite a standing offer of 25 million dollars for his capture, bin Laden has eluded US officials since the 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

He claimed credit for the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, and is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan or Pakistan.

The Senate bill would also require the secretaries of defence and state to submit 90-day updates on the status of bringing Osama bin Laden, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri and "other key leaders" to justice.