BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the insurgent leader blamed for many of the suicide bombings in Iraq, has been wounded, one of the leaders of his organization said yesterday in a posting on a Web site.

The statement, which also called for supporters to pray for Zarqawi's recovery, was attributed to Abu Maysarah Iraqi, the name of the man who is believed to be a spokesman for Zarqawi's group, Al-Qaida in Iraq.

The Web posting could not be independently confirmed. Although the group often makes its claims by Internet statements, there is no way to guarantee that the information comes from the group and is not a hoax.

However, following the Web announcement, several members of Zarqawi's group said they had heard he had been shot. Abu Karar, a lieutenant for Zarqawi's militia in Ramadi, said in an interview that Zarqawi was shot "between the shoulder and chest" in fighting over the weekend west of Ramadi. He said the al-Qaida group was caught in an ambush by Iraqi forces and U.S. Marines. Karar said a top aide of Zarqawi's and several Arab fighters were killed in the same ambush.

Karar said Zarqawi lost consciousness several times but now was in stable condition and in a safe place being treated by doctors.

He added that Zarqawi and his lieutenants are holding meetings on a possible successor if Zarqawi dies. "I heard on the media it's a game -- but it's true," Karar said of the report. "We ask Muslims to pray for him."

Lt. Col. Steven Boylan, spokesman for the U.S. military in Baghdad, said of the Web announcement of Zarqawi's wounding, "We don't know whether it's fact or fiction. He continues to be our No. 1 target."

Wafeeq Samarrae, the security adviser to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, also played down the report. He told the Arab satellite TV broadcaster Al-Jazeera, "Three days ago, one of the most important aides to Zarqawi was arrested and maybe he gave important information about Zarqawi and his whereabouts. In all cases, there are many probabilities. Maybe he is not wounded and he posted this statement on the Internet to say he is wounded and then post another statement to say that he is treated and fine and he is like superman."

The United States has offered a $25 million reward for information leading to the death or capture of Zarqawi, the most-wanted man in Iraq. U.S. officials accuse him of leading a network of insurgent cells that has been behind many violent attacks in Iraq, some of the hostage beheadings and attacks such as the recent military-style assault on U.S. Marines at Abu Ghraib prison.

The reports were welcomed by some people in Iraq. Said Mohammed Saeed Hakim, spokesman and son of the Marji Mohammed Hakim, one of the four Grand Marjas in Najaf, "We are very happy to hear that Zarqawi is wounded and by the will of God we will hear the news of his death on the hands of the Iraqi army."

Earlier this month, U.S. officials said they had received reports that Zarqawi was seen at a hospital in Anbar province and may have been wounded.