Iraq's resistance has replaced Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as political head of the groups, confining him to a military role, the son of Osama bin Laden's mentor told AFP on Sunday.
"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 to have close contacts with the Iraqi resistance.
"Zarqawi's role has been limited to military action," noted Azzam, whose late father Abdallah Azzam was the mentor of bin Laden.
"Zarqawi bowed to the orders two weeks ago and was replaced by Iraqi national Abdullah bin Rashed al-Baghdadi," Azzam stated Sunday.
"Zarqawi also took the liberty of speaking in the name of the Iraqi people and resistance, a role which belongs only to the Iraqis," Azzam said.
"Zarqawi pledged not to carry out any more attacks against Iraq's neighbours after having been criticized for these operations which are considered a violation of sharia (Islamic law)," Azzam said.
