Supporters of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, filled Islamist bulletin boards on the Internet with prayers for his recovery on Wednesday after his group said he had been wounded. A statement posted on Tuesday on sites used by insurgents called on Muslims to "pray for the healing of our Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi from an injury he suffered in the path of God".Signed in the name of the Al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq, its authenticity could not be verified. But get-well messages flowed in from dozens of concerned supporters. Within hours one posting had launched a "million prayers of recovery campaign", quickly garnering over 70 responses. "Do not be sparing in your prayers for a speedy recovery for the Sheikh and may God return him to the fray in safety," the poster said, signing off with a graphic that featured Zarqawi's face, a bloodied knife and the words "behead".
"O God, take away the pain of Abu Musab, and heal him, since their is no healing or medicine other than from You," wrote a group calling itself the Global Islamic Media Front.
"Take the health and well-being of the kings and tyrants and bestow it upon your servant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," another user said in prayer.
One user sought to reassure readers that "mujahideen in Iraq" revealed to him that Zarqawi had escaped to a neighbouring country with a lung wound and breathing difficulties.
Some said the posting about Zarqawi's injury was a lie. "This news is empty of truth and aims to unsettle us. We should check before spreading this kind of thing," one supporter said.