The decision by US President, Barack Obama, not to release images of Osama Bin Laden's body has generated mixed responses in Africa. Students in Botswana, Senegal and Kenya express their views to our correspondents Lotte Vermeij (Botswana), Michael Kaloki (Kenya) and Bineta Diagne (Senegal).

BOTSWANA - Scepticism and suspicion
President Barack Obama's decision not to release photos of Bin Laden's death has sparked heated discussions in Botswana. Whereas citizens are relieved to hear that Bin Laden had finally been tracked down, feelings of suspicion and scepticism are currently on the rise.

Withholding the photos from the public has raised eyebrows, leading to further speculations about the circumstances surrounding Bin Laden's killing. "We don't believe he is dead, he is still hiding somewhere. We cannot trust these reports without hard evidence" said a group of students in Francistown.

Seeing is believing
Mr Nkala (editor of Botswana newspaper Mmegi) explains why the people of Botswana are not impressed by Obama's decision: "People feel they have the right to know the truth, so the photos should be out there as evidence. It is unacceptable that they won’t be released: it implies there is no credibility as to Bin Laden’s death".

Conspiracy theories
Obama’s decision has also provoked a number of conspiracy theories: “Some believe Osama was dead already, others think he is still hiding and the Americans covered up quickly because they got the
wrong guy. There are even speculations the Americans did this to boost
their economy," notes one student.

An official statement has not yet been released by the Botswana government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Presidential Office.

KENYA - A public issue
In Kenya, many students feel the public have a right to access the images of Bin Laden: ''I think Obama should release Osama's pictures... This is a public interest issue. This is not all about Obama it is about us as the world.'' said Phyllis Muchoki a college student in Nairobi.

However, there is also concern that the release of the images could produce fanatical behaviour: 'I think that is a very wise for him not to release those photos,' notes Douglas Sidialo. ‘It might now start producing other fanatics. People who idolize him, people who worship him,' he explains.

Douglas became blind as a result of a bomb explosion at the US Embassy in Nairobi in August 1998. The incident was later linked to Al Qaeda.

American public
Amboka Abdere, a political analyst in Nairobi, feels an element of proof was provided to indicate that Osama is dead: 'They had some video coverage of the area and even one of the women he lived with said he was dead'.

He continues: 'I think Obama here was thinking about the American public rather than people in the Arab world when he made this decision. We know that even when Americans go to war they are reluctant to show pictures of Americans killed in war,' he adds.

SENEGAL - The right to feel
The views of students from the University of Dakar are similarly mixed. Jean Noel - a budding ecology student - believes Obama's decision could make people question the news of Bin Laden's death. “People have the right to feel sceptical when they are not shown any photos or video footage showing the face of Bin Laden.”

His fellow student Tanguy agrees: “The fact that the President of the United States cannot take the initiative to appear in front of the media and publish the death of Bin Laden proves that it must be false!”

Provoking al-Qaeda
Khadim Mbacké, Professor of Islamic studies at L'IFAN (Centre of African Studies at the University of Dakar), suggests that the publication of such graphic content could send out the wrong message to al-Qaeda:

“The Americans reject the view that the death of Bin Laden will lead to a resurgence of attacks from al-Qaeda. I can well believe that this could be the case… if we show unbearable images… this could be seen as a provocation,” warns the professor.