Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's body has been buried at sea, CNN reported on Monday citing a U.S. official.

Earlier Fox News reported that bin Laden could be buried in Saudi Arabia by midday on Monday according to Muslim traditions.

There has so far been no official confirmation from the U.S. Administration of bin Laden being buried in Saudi Arabia or at sea. U.S. President Barack Obama said earlier that bin Laden's body was in the custody of the United States, however, did not specify where the body was.

According to CNN, bin Laden's body was buried at sea in order to avoid creating a shrine for followers on land.

Fox News reported "Terrorist Number 1's" body was under heavy guard at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

According to Muslim traditions, the body of the deceased should be buried within 24 hours after the individual's death. According to Fox News sources, the U.S. Administration has no plans of straying from the traditions and bin Laden could be buried as early as midday on Monday.

Bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia and the country may agree to bury him on its territory; however, no official requests have come from the Middle Eastern state. Bin Laden was expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1991.

At least 44 U.S. Navy SEALs were involved in the military operation to capture bin Laden. According to preliminary reports of the shootout, the al Qaeda leader was shot in the head while hiding behind a woman during the operation. The unidentified woman and three men, one believed to be bin Laden's son, were also killed in the operation that lasted several minutes.

No U.S. military personnel were killed in the operation.

Pakistan officially confirms death of al Qaeda leader bin Laden

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has officially confirmed the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the first official statement from the Central Asian country after U.S. President Barack Obama made the announcement late on Sunday night.

"In an intelligence driven operation, Osama Bin Laden was killed in the surroundings of Abbottabad in the early hours of this morning," a statement on the Pakistani Foreign Ministry's site said. "This operation was conducted by U.S. forces in accordance with declared U.S. policy that Osama bin Laden will be eliminated in a direct action by U.S. forces, wherever found in the world."

Pakistan has repeatedly denied that bin Laden was in the country and insisted he was in Afghanistan.

"Earlier today, President Obama telephoned [Pakistani] President [Asif Ali] Zardari on the successful U.S. operation which resulted in killing of Osama bin Laden," the statement read.