Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has warned that unrest in his country will possibly continue even if Iraqi or US forces capture wanted Al-Qaeda front man Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, CNN reported on Sunday.

"In fact, the Saddamists, the Baathists want to destroy everything, because they have no chance to come back to power through the ballot boxes at all," Zebari told CNN.

Zebari also said his government would view it as a "hostile act " if a foreign government offered any medical assistance to Zarqawi who is believed to be wounded.

"It would be a hostile act, not only for the United States, but for us, for the Iraqi government, too, because he is one of the most wanted people. He's responsible for killing hundreds of Iraqis."

The Jordanian-born Zarqawi confirmed in an Internet audio message posted last week that he had been "lightly" wounded, but claimed he was still fighting in Iraq.

Zarqawi is the most wanted man in Iraq. The US has offered a $ 25 million reward for information leading to his death or capture.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday said that any country which offered medical help to Zarqawi "would be associating themselves with a major linkage in the Al-Qaeda network and a person who has a great deal of blood on his hands."

Zarqawi is alleged to head a network of foreign and Iraqi fighters believed to be behind some of the most ruthless attacks in Iraq, including many suicide bombings that have caused heavy civilian death tolls.

Source: Xinhua