FBI to test Al-Zarqawi's DNA

Biological samples from the bodies of al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his associates have been delivered to the FBI crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

“Biological materials listed as being from three different individuals, including al-Zarqawi, were received at the FBI laboratory,” said special agent Ann Todd, the lab’s spokeswoman.

“FBI laboratory scientists will be working around the clock to conduct genetic testing.”

DNA tests will compare the sample from al-Zarqawi, which was flown with the other biological material from Iraq on military aircraft, with another sample also known to be from the terrorist leader, said FBI spokesman Richard Kolko.

The results are expected in three days. Neither he nor Todd would discuss where or how the FBI found a different DNA sample from al-Zarqawi.

US authorities have already fingerprinted the body to confirm it is that of the terrorist leader, who was killed in a US airstrike on Wednesday on a house north of Baghdad.

“Doing DNA is just kind of like crossing the Ts, dotting the Is,” Kolko said. “It’s the last step in the process to absolutely confirm the identity.”

“We are absolutely confident it is him.”