Zarqawi 'has fled Iraq injured'

BAGHDAD - The US's most wanted man in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has fled the country after being seriously injured in a United States missile attack, a British newspaper has reported.

Zarqawi has shrapnel lodged in his chest and may have been moved to Iran, the Sunday Times reported.

An unnamed insurgency commander said the Jordanian-born militant was wounded three weeks ago in a convoy near al Qaim.

"Shrapnel went in between the right shoulder and chest, ripped it open and is still stuck there," the commander said. A second piece penetrated Zarqawi's chest but exited from his back.

"There was concern about spinal injuries, but his ability to move eliminated that fear."

The newspaper said Zarqawi became delirious with fever after four days and was taken to a hospital in the city of Ramadi.

The report contradicted an internet message from Zarqawi's group, which said, "Our sheikh is in good health and has been overseeing the details of operations up to the time of this statement."

Last week, it said he was wounded "in the path of God" and urged Muslims to pray for his recovery.

Then later an internet statement in al Qaeda's name said the group had named a deputy to fill in for Zarqawi, but a statement from a group spokesman later denied it.

Meanwhile, insurgents said they had killed Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito and posted footage on the internet showing his corpse.

Australia's top Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali has been told by Iraqi tribal leaders that Australian hostage Douglas Wood has been moved by his captors to a safer location and he should return to Baghdad to try to secure Wood's freedom.

- REUTERS