Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is in good health and running al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to an Internet posting Friday purportedly from the group's spokesman.
There was no way to verify the statement's authenticity, but it follows several recent postings saying al-Zarqawi, Washington's most-wanted terror suspect in Iraq, was wounded in the insurgency. Conflicting reports on whether he'd died or been taken abroad for treatment led to speculation of confusion or a jockeying for position among underlings.
"Our sheik is in a good health and he is running the holy war work himself and following the details of the work until the hour this statement has been written," said the statement, posted by Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, who is considered the group's spokesman.
The statement specifically responded to reports there may be divisions within al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the biggest forces in the insurgency and to the possibility he wasn't in charge.
"There have been a lot of arguments in the media about naming a deputy to sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Let everyone know that what's being broadcast by the enemies of God through their media is only designed to promote malicious plans," the statement said.
"The al-Qaeda in Iraq organization ... is united," it added.
"During the last two years, the sheik has had a coherent leadership, by God's grace, and he has a deputy and counselors. ... There's no need for the confusion."
Speculation over the group's leadership soared after Tuesday's Internet "announcement" in Abu Maysara al-Iraqi's name, that al-Zarqawi had been wounded and Muslims should pray for him.
Another Web statement Thursday said a Saudi militant, known as Abu Hafs al-Gerni, had been made the group's interim leader -- or "deputy of the holy warriors" -- until al-Zarqawi recovered from his wounds. That statement was signed in the name of Abu Doujanah al-Tunisi of al-Qaeda in Iraq's media committee -- an unfamiliar name from past statements.
Shortly after, a rival statement appeared on the same site, again in Abu Maysara al-Iraqi's name, to reject suggestions that a replacement had been named for al-Zarqawi.
US officials couldn't confirm reports of Zarqawi's death or wounding. Senior Iraqi officials said they believed he had been wounded.
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