Terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was most likely the man who beheaded Nicholas Berg, the American citizen whose execution was captured on videotape and shown on an Islamic Web site, U.S. intelligence and military officials said Thursday. Despite the poor quality of the digitized audio and video of the tape that has been circulating since it first appeared Tuesday, officials said an initial technical analysis concluded that there was a "high probability" Berg's killer was the notorious al-Zarqawi.
A more detailed study of the videotape is being done, intelligence officials said. "All indications are that is the case," said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez (search), the No. 2 U.S. military leader in Iraq. Asked whether he meant Zarqawi personally carried out the execution, Sanchez said, "All indications are he did it." Asked about Zarqawi's whereabouts, the general said, "We believe he's moving around the country." The person shown speaking in the video — determined to be al-Zarqawi — wears a head scarf and a ski mask and is then shown on the video decapitating Berg, the official said. The speaker reads a lengthy statement criticizing Islamic scholars and taunting the crusaders. Standing alongside four other militants wearing head scarves and masks to disguise themselves, al-Zarqawi then kills Berg. |