Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, today released a rare video of himself proving to the world that he is alive and still playing an active part in the insurgency he helped create.

Looking composed, the Jordanian-born head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, was seen in his desert hideout, posing with a capture US-made machine gun and planning tactics with his followers.

"Your mujahideen sons were able to confront the most ferocious of crusader campaigns on a Muslim state. They have stood in the face of this onslaught for three years," said Zarqawi, in what appeared to be a message to his followers on the anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"When the crusader enemy entered Iraq, he intended to control the Islamic nation and supported the Zionist state," said the fugitive former petty criminal, who was wearing black clothes and green vest.

Last month there was speculation that Zarqawi, once the most powerful insurgent commander in Iraq, had been sidelined by the newly formed Mujahideen Council, an umbrella group, which released today video over the internet.

Zarqawi caused revulsion across the Islamic world when his suicide bombers repeatedly attacked Shia Muslim mosques. He was berated by al-Qaeda’s leadership for beheading his victims.

Last year he was condemned across the Arab world after launching suicide bomb attacks against hotels in Amman, which killed Jordanians and Palestinians. He was widely believed to be the hooded executioner who beheaded Ken Bigley a year and half ago and put the footage out on the internet.

Certainly today's images and statement were rather sober compared with Zarqawi’s earlier appearances.

He appeared to be trying to present himself as a more thoughtful leader in the video. Squatting on the floor to deliver his statement he had a snub-nosed Kalashnikov by his side, exactly the same prop used by Osama bin Laden in some of his recorded messages.

Certainly the US authorities consider both men equally dangerous. They have offered a bounty of $25 million for information leading to Zarqawi’s death of capture, the same price that bin Laden has on his head.

The video also showed a still photograph of bin Laden, an apparent gesture of fealty by his subordinate in Iraq.

Last year Zarqawi was reportedly injured in a shootout with American forces in Iraq’s restive Western Anbar province, where he is now thought to be hiding.

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