The notorious Cold War terrorist Carlos the Jackal is hailing Osama bin Laden as "a martyr," saying he earned himself a place in history through his terrorism deeds.

In an interview with Swedish Television the Venezuelan terrorist says the former al-Qaida leader will still be remembered in 100 years' time because "of what he has done, the example he gave."

He says "nobody" will remember President Barack Obama.

Sixty-one-year old Carlos, or Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is serving a life sentence in France for killing two French secret agents and an alleged informer in 1975. He is also accused of having a role in two 1982 bombings in France.

He claims he met bin Laden as a teen when Ramirez Sanchez tried to raise funds from wealthy Saudis.