Terrorist Zarqawi Hurt

[David]

AP


The most-wanted terrorist in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been injured, and a statement attributed to his militant group asked Muslims to pray for his recovery, an Internet posting said Tuesday.

The statement's authenticity could not be verified, but it was posted on a Web site known for carrying prior statements by al Qaeda in Iraq and other militant groups.

The statement, which purportedly was from the group's media coordinator, Abu Maysarah al-Iraqi, did not say how or when al-Zarqawi was injured. Al-Iraqi is known to be the group's media coordinator, but there was no way to confirm if the statement was true or that it was posted by al Qaeda in Iraq.

Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian, has claimed responsibility for attacks on Iraqi civilians and security forces, kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners, and has a $25 million bounty on his head ? the same as for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

"Let the near and far know that the injury of our leader is an honor, and a cause to close in on the enemies of God, and a reason to increase the attacks against them," the statement said.

There were media reports earlier this month that the U.S. military was investigating whether al-Zarqawi was at a Ramadi hospital and whether he was ill or wounded.