Angela Merkel says relieved about bin Laden's death

German chancellor Angela Merkel told US President Barack Obama that she was relieved about the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by US forces, according to a statement released by her spokesperson on Monday.

The United States had succeeded in making a decisive strike against al-Qaeda, Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement. But the chancellor warned that international terrorism has not yet been defeated.

"With the commando operation against Osama bin Laden and his killing, US forces succeeded in making a decisive strike against al-Qaeda," Merkel's spokesperson said in a statement.

"Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her relief about this news to US President Barack Obama," Seibert said.

"Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people...The forces of peace were successful last night. International terror has not been defeated. We'll all have to remain vigilant."