Pop Career for Bin Laden Niece

Her uncle might be the most feared terrorist in the world, but Osama bin Laden's niece is about to try and take the world of pop music by storm.

Waffa bin Laden, whose father Yeslam is the brother of the world's most wanted man, aims to release a single by the end of the year.

The 26-year old, who has been described as a Natalie Imbruglia lookalike, is rumoured to be working with one of Madonna's producers.

Miss bin Laden - an American-trained lawyer - has become a player on the London party circuit since she moved to the capital six months ago from New York. She has rejected her strict Muslim background and has adopted all the hallmarks of Western culture, smoking, drinking and wearing mini-skirts.

There is no love lost between the 26-year old and her infamous uncle - she dissociated herself from him long before the 11 September terrorist attacks. At the time of the atrocity she was living less than a mile from the World Trade Centre.

Her mother Carmen, who lives in Geneva with Waffa's two young sisters said: 'The bin Laden family have condemned my daughters because they have western ways, but I support Waffa's freedom.'

She described how she had met bin Laden only once, at their home. 'I just got a glance and he turned his back because I was unveiled,' she said.

Waffa's mother is worried for her daughter's safety because of the association with the terrorist leader. 'This is very dangerous,' she said. 'We have had no contact with that family for more than 10 years. We thought about changing the name, but then people would think we had something to hide.'

Simon Cowell, the Pop Idol judged renowned for his put-downs said: 'There's only one worse surname you could have to launch a pop career - and that's Hitler.'