Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has angrily defended his actions in trying to hunt down al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
In an interview broadcast Sunday on Fox News, Mr. Clinton said his administration tried to kill bin Laden, and had contracted with people to kill him. He said he came closer than anyone since in trying to kill the terrorist leader.
But Mr. Clinton said some, including who he said were "right-wingers" attacking him now, did not try to get bin Laden until after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, that were carried out by al-Qaida.
Mr. Clinton said he regrets not being able to get bin Laden, but said he left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy with former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke.
In the interview, in which Mr. Clinton was at times combative, the former president accused the show's host, Chris Wallace, of doing a "conservative hit job."
The interview was taped last week while Clinton was in New York for his Global Initiative conference that raised money to fight world problems.
Information for this report is provided by AP.
