CIA director congratulates spy agency employees

WASHINGTON (AP) — CIA Director Leon Panetta is congratulating employees of the spy agency for their role in killing Osama bin Laden.

In a statement Monday, Panetta praised what he described as the "outstanding expertise, amazing creativity and excellent tradecraft" in tracking down and launching the military strike that killed bin Laden. Panetta, who is preparing to take over the Pentagon as the new U.S. defense secretary, also praised the Navy Seal team that took bin Laden down in a bun battle early Monday.

Panetta called bin Laden "the most infamous terrorist of our time." He added: "We have struck a heavy blow against the enemy. The only leader they have ever known, whose hateful vision gave rise to their atrocities, is no more. The supposedly uncatchable one has been caught and killed."