Zarqawi "terminated", Iraqi PM says

BAGHDAD, June 8 (Reuters) Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been ''terminated'', Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced tday.

Maliki, a Shi'ite who took office on May 20 on a pledge to crush a Sunni Arab insurgency against the US-backed government, vowed open war with anyone following Zarqawi's path.

''Today Zarqawi has been terminated,'' Maliki told a televised news conference attended also by the top US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, and other senior figures.

''Every time a Zarqawi appears we will kill him,'' Maliki said. ''We will continue confronting whoever follows his path. It is an open war between us.'' Iraqi journalists at the news conference started applauding and cheering after the announcement.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Zarqawi's death marked a ''great success'' but cautioned that it will not end violence in the country.

Casey said Zarqawi, who had a 25 million US dollar, bounty on his head, was killed in an air raid, adding his body had been identified. He also said Zarqawi's group still posed a threat.

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