Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted terrorist in Iraq, is dead.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has announced Thursday that militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been killed.

"Today we have managed to put an end to Zarqawi," Mr Maliki said, sparking sustained applause.

The Jordanian-born leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was considered the figurehead of the Sunni insurgency. Reports say he was killed in an air raid near Baquba.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for scores of bombings that have killed hundreds of Shias and US forces.

The head of US-led forces in Iraq, General George Casey, said Zarqawi's body was identified through fingerprints and facial recognition.

Zarqawi has also been accused of leading the rash of kidnappings and beheadings of foreign workers.

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