Moscow, May 10 (IANS) Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi has claimed that Tehran has evidence to prove Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had died of disease long before the US' alleged raid on the terrorist, RIA Novosti quoted FARS Iranian news agency as saying.

Bin Laden was killed May 2 in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad, north of the capital Islamabad, during a raid by US Navy Seals.

"We have accurate information that bin Laden died of illness some time ago," Moslehi said.

Bin Laden's body was buried at sea less than 24 hours after the US operation.

"If the US military and intelligence apparatus have really arrested or killed bin Laden, why don't they show him (his dead body) why have they thrown his corpse into the sea?" Moslehi continued.

A DNA test proved that the corpse of the dead man belonged to bin Laden, who has topped the FBI's most wanted list for the past decade.

White House spokesman, Jay Carney said Wednesday that Washington would not release bin Laden's postmortem photos to avoid instigating propaganda and possible violence.