Osama killed with shot to head by Navy SEALs: official

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US Navy SEALs led the commando operation in Pakistan that ended the life of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden with a bullet to the head, a US official told AFP.

The SEALs, which stands for Sea, Air, Land, are elite troops used for some of the riskiest anti-terrorism missions, as well as behind-the-lines reconnaissance and unconventional warfare.

On loan to the CIA for the mission on Sunday night into Monday, the SEAL team launched the assault from helicopters on a heavily fortified villa in a city near Islamabad that US intelligence had identified as bin Laden's hideout.

"Responsibility for the raid is Leon Panetta's; It was executed by Navy SEALs," said the official, referring by name to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

CNN described the operation as a 'kill mission' but US officials told AFP bin Laden 'resisted as we expected'.

The Al-Qaeda leader's body was buried at sea, two officials said on condition of anonymity.

"We wanted to avoid a situation where it would become a shrine," one of the officials said.

And there was no time for negotiations with other countries to arrange for a possible burial, the official said.