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Al Zarqawi's death will not stop the violence
Al Qaeda in Iraq has vowed to carry out large-scale attacks that will "shake the enemy" after the killing of its leader last week.
Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed by a US airstrike while in his safe house near Baghdad.
In an internet statement, the group said its leading body held a meeting after al Zarqawi's death to discuss strategy and renew a pledge to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
The statement said: "We plan large-scale operations that will shake the enemy and rob them of sleep, in co-ordination with the other factions of the Mujahideen Council.
"We renew allegiance to the leader of al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, and he will be pleased with the actions of his soldiers in Iraq, God willing."
Bin Laden, who is believed to hiding in mountains on the Afghan-Pakistan border, had declared al Zarqawi his deputy in Iraq.
The Jordanian militant was killed after US warplanes raided his hide-out in a village north of Baghdad.
After his death, al Qaeda vowed to continue fighting the US-led occupation and the Baghdad government in an internet statement signed by al Zarqawi's deputy, Abu Abdulrahman al Iraqi.
In January, al Qaeda in Iraq and some other militant groups set up an umbrella body - the Mujahideen Council - to co-ordinate their operations.
Al Zarqawi was blamed for a campaign of car bombs and the kidnapping and beheading of Western hostages, including Briton Ken Bigley.
Al Qaeda watchers say his successor may be a local figure who focuses attacks more on US and Iraqi troops and less on suicide bombings against Iraqi civilians.
