Wednesday, May 25 2005 08:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Terrorist group al-Qaeda's front-ranking leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded, CNN reported yesterday (May 24, 2005) quoting Islamist militant web sites.

The message, which could not be independently verified, was attributed to the group's media in-charge Abu Maysara al-Iraqi who posted it on the website, the television said.

It said the message also asks for prayers for Zarqawi whose group has claimed responsibility for several car bombings, kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq.

The United States has announced a $ 25-million reward for information leading to the capture of al-Zarqawi.

The website did not mention how and when al-Zarqawi was wounded.

American troops had nearly captured al-Zarqawi earlier this year in Iraq, Pentagon officials have said.

The US military said it had seized this month a letter from Iraqi insurgents believed to be intended for al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among his followers and weakening support for the insurgency, CNN said.

The Bush administration identified al-Zarqawi as an al Qaeda terrorist who fled to Iraq from Afghanistan in May 2002 for medical treatment.