Obama to visit CIA headquarters Friday

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama will visit the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, Friday to thank CIA operatives for the "work they do every day to keep America safe and specifically for their excellent work in tracking down Osama bin Laden," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday.

Obama's decision to visit the CIA came shortly after the successful raid on bin Laden's Pakistani compound, Carney said.

CIA Director Leon Panetta oversaw the May 2 raid, which was conducted by Navy SEALs and ended in the death of bin Laden.

Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian special forces officer, has been chosen as bin Laden's successor to lead al Qaeda, according to CNN contributor Peter Bergen.

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