
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) - A 52-year-old American citizen who said he was searching for Osama bin Laden was detained in Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan this week, Pakistani police said Tuesday.
The Californian named Gary Faulkner was carrying a pistol, a sword, night-vision equipment and Christian religious books, said Mumtaz Ahmed, a police chief in the area.
Faulkner was detained as he was walking from Pakistan toward the border into Nuristan province in Afghanistan, Ahmed said. He told police that he had been looking for bin Laden since 9/11 and had traveled to the area several times before, Ahmed said.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire did not confirm that Faulkner had been detained but said that the consulate in Peshawar did receive notification of the detention of an American citizen. Snelsire said they were trying to get more details.
"We're hoping to get consular access to the individual," Snelsire said.
Faulkner told police that he had no intention of killing bin Laden, Ahmed said. But police believed he was trying to kill bin Laden because of the weapons he was carrying, according to Ahmed.
(CNN) – It's day 57 of the Gulf oil spill and maybe the most pivotal day for President Obama. Tonight, for the first time, he'll address the nation from the Oval Office – the most symbolically powerful setting at his disposal – to try and convince the American people that he's doing everything he can to stop the worst oil spill in American history.
New poll numbers show he has a lot of convincing to do. A USA Today/Gallup poll taken over the weekend shows 71% of those surveyed said the president hasn't been tough enough on BP. Half of respondents think some of the beaches affected will never recover.
And today, there's new evidence that BP put money ahead of safety, allegedly taking cheaper, riskier shortcuts on the well that has been spewing oil from the ocean floor for eight weeks. Our Ed Henry reports on some of the themes we can expect the president to touch on in his speech tonight.
(CNN) – The doctor accused of having a role in Michael Jackson's death is fighting to keep his medical license again in court today. In this AM original report, a much different opinion of Doctor Conrad Murray emerges. Our Ted Rowlands talks to patients who say Dr. Murray deserves praise, not persecution.
(CNN) – According to the New York Times, a massive reserve of mineral deposits has been found in Afghanistan. Our Christine Romans has the report.
(CNN) – A 20th body was found Monday from last week's flash flood at an Arkansas campground, an official said. Terri Roeder survived the flood, but lost three members of her family – her mother, Kay, brother, Bruce, and sister-in-law, Debbie. She joined us on Monday's American Morning to share her story.
Read more: 20th body found at Arkansas campground

