Zarqawi replaced at head of Iraq resistance

Iraq's resistance has replaced Jordanian-born Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi as political head of the rebels, confining him to a military role, the son of Osama Bin Laden's mentor said on Sunday in Jordan.

"The Iraqi resistance's high command asked Zarqawi to give up his political role and replaced him with an Iraqi, because of several mistakes he made," said Hudayf Azzam, who claims close contacts with the rebels. "Zarqawi's role has been limited to military action," said Azzam, whose late father Abdullah Azzam was the mentor of Bin Laden, the Al Qaeda boss.

"Zarqawi bowed to the orders two weeks ago and was replaced by Iraqi national Abdullah Bin Rashed Al Baghdadi," Azzam said.

Azzam, 35, whose father was known as the "prince of mujahideens", said he regularly receives "credible information on the resistance in Iraq".

He said Zarqawi "made many political mistakes", including "the creation of an independent organization, Al Qaeda in Iraq", adding, "Zarqawi also took the liberty of speaking in the name of the Iraqi people and resistance, a role which belongs only to the Iraqis."

As a result "the resistance command inside and outside Iraq, including imams, criticized him and after long discussions demanded that he be confined to military action", Azzam said. "Zarqawi pledged not to carry out any more attacks against Iraq's neighbors after having been criticized for these operations which are considered a violation of Sharia [Islamic law]," Azzam said.