Police seal off area around bin Laden home

[1]

Pakistan on Wednesday stepped up security in the neighbourhood where Osama bin Laden was killed by US commandos, sealing off the area after crowds had flocked to his one-time villa home.

Police barred the media and public from the Bilal suburb of the garrison town of Abbottabad, where the Al Qaeda chief had been living in secrecy in a compound surrounded by towering perimeter walls.

"More than 300 armed policemen have been deployed at the entry points, as well as in the town and close to the house, for security reasons," a local police official said on condition of anonymity, without giving further details.

Just over a dozen army troops were also seen moving into the area and standing guard in front of the house.

Local residents returning to their houses were body-searched and their ID cards checked, with some labourers prevented from going to work in the area, an AFP reporter said.

Several hours later, about half a dozen officials arrived in a fleet of three vehicles and entered the building.

There was no word from police and other authorities about their identity.

Senior police personnel inspected the area before the team's visit and journalists were asked to leave. Police officials said earlier that an army general was expected to arrive.