Osama's son seeks to promote peace in UN role

His surname may spell terror for you, but Omar bin Laden, the son of world's most wanted man, wants to be an envoy of peace at the United Nations.

Omar, the fourth eldest son of the Al-Qaeda leader, reveals himself as someone definitely not cut from the same cloth as his father. "I do not believe that I would be a good politician I have a habit of speaking the truth, even when it does not serve me well. But I would like to be in a position to promote peace. I believe that the United Nations would be ideal for me," Omar was quoted as saying by the New Statesman.

Omar revealed that even though he was asked by his father's fighters to take up arms, he ended contact with Osama in April 2001. "His sons were in attendance, although none of us was a fighter," Omar said.

"He (Osama) spoke of how it is a great honour to give one's life for Islam and said anyone who wanted to give their life should put their name on a paper in the mosque," Omar told the Left wing political magazine.

"He never asked me to join Al-Qaeda, but he did tell me I was the son chosen to carry on his work. He was disappointed when I said I was not suited to that life. I do not like disagreement or violence," he told the British magazine in an interview.

As for his memory of the 11 September 2001 attacks in America that have made the Bin Laden name infamous, Omar said he was saddened by the event. "I went into the sitting area and my family were gathered around the television. I soon learned that America was under attack. It was a very sad day," said Omar, the fourth eldest son of the Al-Qaeda chief.

However, Omar does not believe that his father was behind the attack. "I never thought my father was capable of the carnage in America it was too big for his small organisation," he stressed.

Now Omar reveals his conflicting emotions he holds for his father in a book, 'Growing Up Bin Laden, Osama's Wife and Son take us Inside their Secret World', co-authored with his mother, Najwa and bestselling writer Jean Sasson.

Omar said though his father name spells terror for others, he does not seem to have suffered unduly for bearing the Bin Laden name. In fact, "people are courteous once they have overcome their initial reaction."

"People are surprised when they learn that I am the son of Osama bin Laden. But once they get their wits in order, they are curious about my life and usually extend a hand of friendship, which leads me to believe that most people have very good hearts," he told the London-based magazine.

He said at times "my heart swell with anger at his (fathers) actions, which have harmed many people, people he did not know, as well as members of his own family". "As the son of Osama bin Laden, I am truly sorry for all the terrible things that have happened, the innocent lives that have been destroyed, the grief that still lingers in many hearts," Omar underlined.