<font size=6><font color=red><b>Iraq Al-Qaeda chief Zarqawi killed in air strike</b></font id=red></font id=size6>
by Jay Deshmukh 15 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Al-Qaeda's chief in
Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in an air strike on a safe house where he was holding a meeting, the prime minister announced, ending the hunt for the country's most wanted fugitive.
Zarqawi, blamed for a string of bloody attacks and kidnappings that have bedevilled Iraq in its transition "has been eliminated," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a news conference.
"What happened ... is the result of collaboration from people who facilitated the operation conducted by Iraqi police and multinational forces," Maliki told reporters.
"This is a message to those who choose the path of violence to change their direction before it is too late. I thank our forces, our police and the multinational forces for what they are doing in pursuing the terrorists."
General George W. Casey Jr, head of US-led forces in Iraq, told the press conference that Zarqawi and one of his key lieutenants, spiritual advisor Sheikh Abdel Rahman, were killed at 6:15 pm (1415 GMT) Wednesday in an air strike on an isolated safe house.
He said Zarqawi's death "is a significant blow to Al-Qaeda and another step toward defeating terrorism in Iraq.
"Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates, who were conducting a meeting approximately eight kilometers (five miles) north of Baquba, when the air strike was launched."
Baquba is located about 60 kilometres (36 miles) north of the capital.
"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multinational Division North, arrived shortly thereafter. Coalition Forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."
Casey said Zarqawi and Al-Qaeda in Iraq "have conducted terrorist activities against the Iraqi people for years in attempts to undermine the Iraqi national government and coalition efforts to rebuild and stabilize Iraq.
"Although the designated leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organization still poses a threat as its members will continue to try to terrorize the Iraqi people and destabilize their government as it moves toward stability and prosperity," he added.
"Iraqi forces, supported by the coalition, will continue to hunt terrorists that threaten the Iraqi people until terrorism is eradicated in Iraq."
US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said "Zarqawi's death is a good omen ... for our overall efforts in the global war against terror.
"I congratulate Prime Minister Maliki. Today is a good day. There will be difficult days ahead but together Iraqis and coalition forces will fight terrorists and those who want Iraq to fail."
In Amman, a senior Jordanian official said "Zarqawi was killed in Baquba ... in a joint operation involving the Jordanian intelligence, the US intelligence and American special operations forces."
"It was a land operation with air cover," he added.
According to the official, Jordanian-born Zarqawi was "presiding over a meeting of his terrorist group" at the time of the operation.
"He died ten minutes after the operation, along with eight to 10 of his partisans," the official added.
"He was identified by the agents that carried out the raid who compared recent pictures of Zarqawi with the body," the official said.
And in another step aimed at returning security to the insurgency-wracked country, Maliki also made long-awaited appointments to the defence and interior ministries.
Jawad Polani was named as interior minister, Abdel Qader al-Obeidi as defense minister and Shirwan al-Waili to head national security.
The candidates read out their credentials and experience to the parliament prior to a vote. Parliament members were also given the opportunity to question the candidates.
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<b>MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!</b>
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And to the boys that got him!!!
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That's <b>2 out of 3 so far boys.</b>
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<b>"One post, One Kill".</b>