Is Bin Laden Dead?

Time is reporting that Saudi sources have credible reports suggesting the fugitive Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has contracted a serious "water-borne illness," and may have already died. See also CNN's coverage (CNN's official OBL watcher Peter Bergen reports that the Binladen family has no knowledge of the illness or death). The Saudi information echos a story by the French newspaper L'Est Republicain, which cited a report by the French intelligence service, Direction Generale des Services Exteriors (DGSE), that also cited Saudi sources:

"The information gathered by the Saudis indicates that the head of al Qaeda was a victim while he was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, of a very serious case of typhoid which led to a partial paralysis of his internal organs."

Source: Excerpt of leaked French intelligence service report printed in L'Est Republicain and translated by Reuters.

Background on Typhoid Fever: CDC | Medline Plus | Mayo Clinic

Hoax? Where's the body? [JH]