Iraq's Al Qaida said that its leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was not among those killed in a deadly weekend raid in Mosul.
In an Internet statement, Al Qaida said it delayed its response to "lies" about Al Zarqawi's death "to let Muslims know the extent of (the media's) stupidity and shallow thinking."
DNA tests are under way to determine if Al Zarqawi was among the dead, though the White House said that reports of the terrorist's death were "highly unlikely and not credible."
The US command said that 11 US soldiers, nine Iraqi soldiers, seven insurgents and a policeman were wounded in the raid.
