Friday, June 9 2006 17:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kandahar: The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will not weaken the Iraqi resistance as there are thousands ready to take his place and 'even accelerate' the struggle, a statement attributed to the Taliban chief said today (June 9, 2006).

Mullah Mohammad Omar also expressed sadness over the death of Zarqawi, the Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, in an air strike on Wednesday in the statement read to journalists in a satellite telephone call by a purported Taliban spokesman.

"I and all Muslims of Afghanistan's resistance are very sad by the martyrdom of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," the statement read out by Mohammad Hanif said.

Nonetheless there would be no decrease in war against the crusade invasion.

"Zarqawi's martyrdom will not weaken the Iraqi resistance as this is a national resistance any youth can become Zarqawi," it said.

"Today he has trained thousands of youths in this struggle. Zarqawi achieved his will and goals. He wanted to forge a massive resistance against Americans and he did that.

"Today if Zarqawi is not there, he has left behind thousands of youths who will even accelerate this resistance," the statement said.

"The lieutenants of the late Zarqawi are not weaklings but could be even stronger," he said.