Bin Laden diary reveals plans to attack US cities

(AP)

Osama bin Laden's personal handwritten journal was among the hoard of papers and computer files captured by US special forces when they killed the terrorist leader.

The diary was reported to be filled with observations and ideas for operations. The diary and other writings revealed that Bin Laden was keen for al-Qa'ida operatives to terrorise the US by attacking smaller cities and trains as well as New York and aircraft. He urged followers to kill as many Americans as possible and calculated that thousands would have to die before the US government would change its policies.

Bin Laden's children are contemplating suing US authorities in response to the "criminal" killing of their father, according to a statement attributed to one of his sons.

In an unverified statement on an Islamic website, his fourth son Osama Bin Laden asked why "an unarmed man was not arrested and tried in a court of law". He also questioned whether he was really dead.