Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, head of Al Qaeda in Iraq, has been wounded.

“O nation of Islam … Pray for the healing of our Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi from an injury he suffered in the path of God,” said a statement from the Al Qaeda Organization for Holy War in Iraq. Its authenticity could not be verified.

“The injury of our leader is an honor and an incentive to tighten the noose on the enemies of God and a reason to step up our attacks on them,” the statement said.

The United States has set a $25 million prize on Zarqawi, a Jordanian considered its number one enemy in Iraq.

In Baghdad, U.S. army Lieutenant Colonel Steve Boylan, spokesperson for U.S. forces in Iraq, said: “We have no information on whether he’s wounded or what the state of his health is.

The report by Zarqawi’s group was posted by a user on an Islamist web site which often publicizes the group’s actions.

“You are the beloved of the mujahideen (holy fighters), and may God heal you and make you steadfast …,” it said. “Our sheikh has taught us that nothing is worthy compared to … Islam,” it added.

Zarqawi’s group has claimed responsibility for several attacks in a wave of insurgent suicide bombings and ambushes that have killed more than 500 people since a new Iraqi government was named last month.

Boylan said that such reports about Zarqawi had been heard frequently before and were almost impossible to verify. “This could be another one of their ploys, you never know.”

The Pentagon in Washington said it had no basis to confirm or deny the story.

“We’ve seen the report here, don’t have anything to contribute at this point,” a senior U.S. official said. “We may be able to provide you some comment later.”

“He’s still our number one target to be captured or killed and until that happens, the hunt is still on.”

“He’s committed some heinous crimes against those seeking to assist the Iraqi people in Iraq and the Iraqi people. And he’s a terrorist who has denounced democracy and representative government and is responsible for beheadings of innocent civilians,” the official said.