ANTI-ZARQAWI GROUP COULD BE BACKED BY GOVT. BAGHDAD ø The new Iraqi interim government was believed to have lent its support to the establishment of a Sunni insurgency group that has opposed Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi, regarded as the most lethal insurgent in that country.

Arab diplomatic sources said the government of Prime Minister Iyad Alawi was believed to have helped establish a shadowy insurgency group called the "Salvation Movement" as part of efforts to counter Al Zarqawi. The new group has warned Al Zarqawi to leave Iraq or face retaliation for the killing of hundreds of Iraqis in suicide bombings carried out over the last year.

"The criminal Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi must immediately leave Iraq and everyone who supports or shelters him must stop what they are doing, especially after his heinous acts that killed innocent people all over Iraq," an unidentified member of the Salvation Group warned in a video sent to and aired by the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television.

"We have prepared ourselves," the Salvation representative, who was armed and concealed by an Arab scarf, said. "We swear we will track him down wherever he is and arrest him and his followers or kill them. This is the last warning for those who shelter him."

In the video, four men carrying weapons stood in front of an Iraqi flag. All of their faces were concealed.

"It seems to be an effort to appeal to Sunni Arab nationalism in Iraq and the fingerprints show the government is involved," an Arab diplomatic source in Baghdad said. "Right now, the government understands that the key to capturing or killing Al Zarqawi rests within the Sunni community."

Al Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for dozens of suicide bombings in Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities over the last year. He has also claimed credit for the abduction and execution of foreigners from countries that have contributed military forces to Iraq.

On Wednesday, Al Zarqawi's Tawhid group claimed responsibility for a strike on U.S. soldiers near Baghdad earlier this week. A statement by the group posted on an Islamic website said 100 Tawhid fighters attacked a U.S. combat unit in Saqlawiya about 70 kilometers west of Baghdad.

The United States believes Al Zarqawi has been shuttling between Baghdad and Faluja in an effort to avoid capture by Iraqi forces and the U.S. coalition. The United States has offered a $25 million reward for the capture of Al Zarqawi and launched bombing raids and missile attacks on several suspected hideouts in June.

For his part, Alawi said Iraqi intelligence has provided information on suspected safehouses used by Al Zarqawi in Faluja. The prime minister said the United States has bombed these buildings over the last two weeks.

In its statement, the Salvation Movement appealed to Iraqi nationals to abandon Al Zarqawi. The movement stressed that Al Zarqawi, a Jordanian national, is not an Iraqi.

"He is not a son of this country and has killed thousands of its people," the statement said.