Moscow says U.S. had right to kill bin Laden

Russia believes the U.S. had the right under international law to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Bin Laden was shot dead by U.S. special forces during a raid on his home in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad at the start of May.

"Our position is very simple. After September 11, 2001 the UN Security Council adopted a resolution recognizing the United States' right to self-defense," Lavrov said in an interview with the Moskovskie Novosti daily to be published on Thursday.

"The right to self-defense is not subject to any restrictions."

However, the United States should provide more details about the raid, Lavrov went on.

"I understand that the U.S. side is ready to offer a detailed explanation," he said.

Lavrov also stressed that terror must be fought within the bounds of international law, saying that politicians who issue criminal orders "must be prosecuted."

"This is what the International Criminal Court is for," he said.

MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti)