Washington, May 2 (IANS) Following is the dramatic sequence of events that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

 
 - August 2010: US President Barack Obama is briefed on a "possible lead" about Osama's location. Residence of a courier with close ties with Osama is found in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.
 
 - September 2010: CIA works with Obama on a set of assessments that leads it to believe that Osama may be at the mansion in Abbottabad.
 
 - February 2011: US officials conclude there was a "sound intelligence basis" for pursuing Osama at the location.
 
 - March, April 2011: Obama holds series of National Security Council (NSC) meetings "to develop a course of action to bring Osama bin Laden to justice". There were five NSC meetings between March 14 and April 28.
 
 - April 2011: Obama believed there was enough credible intelligence about Osama's whereabouts, setting in motion US military operations.
 
 - April 29, 2011: Obama gives final order to pursue the operation.
 
 - May 1, 2011: Obama signs "kill order" after getting intelligence confirmation.
 
 - US Navy Seals fly to Islamabad to launch operation Sunday night.
 
 - Navy Seals raid the compound. Launches assault in which three men - two of them Osama's couriers and one his son - are killed. A woman being used as a human shield is also killed.
 
 - Osama bin Laden is shot dead.
 
 - Operation lasts about 40 minutes. There is no US casualty. Loss of a helicopter due to mechanical failure.
 
 - US troops carry out Osama's body to a helicopter.
 
 - Osama buried at sea.
 
 - Obama announces Osama bin Laden's death to the world at 10.30 p.m