Zarqawi killed.

[frigidmagi]

BBC

The US and UK have hailed news that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, has died in a US air strike.

Zarqawi died when US planes dropped two 500lb (230kg) bombs on a site near the city of Baquba. He was identified by fingerprints, tattoos and scars.

The US struck after receiving specific tip-offs from within Zarqawi's organisation, officials said.

US President George W Bush described the news as a severe blow to al-Qaeda and "justice" for Zarqawi.

British PM Tony Blair described it as "very good news", but both leaders said Zarqawi's death would not end violence.



Obituary: Zarqawi
In pictures: Life of Zarqawi
How Zarqawi was found
Hometown reaction

The news came shortly before the Iraqi parliament approved the key posts of defence and interior ministers.

The two crucial roles had remained unfilled despite the formation of a coalition government last month.

Zarqawi's death was an opportunity for the new government to "turn the tide", President Bush said.

"The ideology of terror has lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders," he added.

Correspondents say it remains to be seen if one man's death will bring a breakthrough in Iraq.

Applause

Zarqawi "safe house" about 8km (five miles) north of Baquba was struck at 1815 (1415 GMT) on Wednesday, officials said.


Strike site
This is a message to those who choose the path of violence to change their direction before it is too late
Nouri Maliki
Iraqi Prime Minister
Statement in full
In quotes: World reaction

Watch the speech

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki announced the news on Thursday, telling a news conference in Baghdad: "We have eliminated Zarqawi."

The news sparked sustained applause.

The strike was the "painstaking, deliberate result" of intelligence over "many weeks", US military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said.

He showed a picture of the militant leader's body and a videotape of the attack, in which he said American F-16 fighter jets dropped the two 500lb bombs on the site.

See a map of the area

The body was moved to a secure site where Zarqawi's identity was confirmed, the official said.

A Jordanian government spokesman said Jordanian agents had contributed to the operation against Zarqawi.


ZARQAWI-CLAIMED ATTACKS
19 Aug 2003: Bombing of UN office in Baghdad, 23 dead
29 Aug 2003: Bombing of Najaf shrine killing Shia cleric Muhammad Baqr Hakim, 85 dead
2 March 2004: Co-ordinated attack on Shia mosques during Ashoura ceremony, 181 dead
11 May 2004: Nick Berg beheaded, first of at least nine foreign hostages killed in 2004
14 Sept 2004: Car bomb targeting police recruits in Baghdad, 47 dead
19 Dec 2004: Car bombs in Najaf and Karbala, 60 dead
9 Nov 2005: Triple attack on hotels in Amman, 60 dead

Iraqis give their reaction
Your views: Zarqawi's death

Mr Maliki said intelligence from Iraqi people had also helped to track down Zarqawi, who had a $25m (£13m) price on his head - the same bounty as that offered by the US for Osama Bin Laden.

A statement on the internet attributed to an umbrella group for jihadi organisations including al-Qaeda in Iraq has confirmed Zarqawi's death, reports say.

Jordanian-born Zarqawi was said to have been in a meeting with associates at the time. Five other people were killed in the raid, including spiritual adviser Sheikh Abd-al-Rahman and an unidentified woman and child.

Within hours of the killings, troops launched 17 simultaneous raids around Baghdad, which yielded a "treasure trove" of intelligence, according to the US official.

'Violent thug'

Zarqawi was not a global mastermind like al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden, says the BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner.


Zarqawi's hometown, Zarqa, reacts to his killing.

In pictures

Instead he was a bloodthirsty and violent thug, our correspondent says - who made enemies and several mistakes that might have contributed to his downfall.

These included ordering a triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, last November, that killed 60 people, our correspondent says.

Zarqawi was accused of leading the rash of kidnappings and beheadings of foreign workers.

It has been suggested that he appeared personally on one video posted on the internet, cutting off the head of an American hostage.

A video released in April showed Zarqawi shooting an automatic rifle and berating the US for its "arrogance". The video provided the most up-to-date picture of the fugitive.

Violence continued on Thursday as 13 people were killed and 28 injured in a bomb at a Baghdad market, while an evening car bombing killed five and injured at least 13, police said.

What this does is prove that the Coalition is not just dicking around in Iraq and does provide a nasty blow to Al Qeeada's faction within that nation. This does not kill the insurgency however and no one should think that for a minute. It does however remove an importent piece from the board.

[B4UTRUST]

Or create an environment that will now cause a lot more bombings and attacks in the short term future as Al Queada attacks to prove to the world they're still a very real threat with or without Zarqawi.

But this is definatly a good thing. A very good thing.

[frigidmagi]

We would see more bombings in the short term either way. The Iraqi government filled it last two vacant cabinet level post today and they would be trying to cow the new government.

[Scottish Ninja]

Excellent news! I'd heard it earlier today but only as hearsay.

[Mayabird]

So, are those people who pointed out his safehouse going to collect on the bounty money? How does that work? (I have little doubt that they'll be spending much of that money getting themselves and their families out of the country to somewhere safe and hopefully assassin-free.)

[Rukia]

The best part about it was his own people turned him in. Although it could mean two things...

a.) They are actually getting a bit scared and realizing we're not letting up.

or

b.) They are just trying to get the money Like Maya said.

Maybe both. At either rate, I'm happy.

[Ra]

Another scumsucking terrorist dead. While it won't affect anything in the long term for the Iraq situation, every terrorist dead is a very good thing, especially ones of Zarqawi's ilk. See you in hell.

[frigidmagi]

Since Zarki's death there have been over 40 raids on Al Qeada cells in Iraq. With the lost of an effective leader and intelligence gained, Al Q has suffered a rather harsh blow this week.

One should note that Al Q is not the only faction in Iraq committed to fighting the Iraqi Government and the American Occupication, however, the defeat or lessing of any of these factions clears the boards and makes the conflict a little simplier and that does influence things in the long term.

[SirNitram]

There's two reasons I won't dance about this.

1) Best estimates put 6% of insurgent activities on A-Q. Sooo.. More happy fuzzies than defeating the insurgency.

2) A-Q is talking entirely too much about replacing him with someone who can band together the Sunni factions for me to be comfy.

[frigidmagi]

1) Best estimates put 6% of insurgent activities on A-Q. Sooo.. More happy fuzzies than defeating the insurgency.

I'll take a 6% drop in bombings. Not as good as a 100% drop but a drop is a drop.

2) A-Q is talking entirely too much about replacing him with someone who can band together the Sunni factions for me to be comfy.

Not gonna happen, half the Sunni factions don't even talk to each other, and most are secular in nature. They're not gonna follow orders or ally with out of town assholes who are known for blowing up Iraqi kids.