Baghdad, Iraq, Jun 8, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of the Caldean Catholic Church in Iraq, told AsiaNews today that while Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s death brings hope for the future, ultimately dialogue and the way of love must conquer the hearts of the Iraqi people.  The death of the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq was confirmed by US and Iraqi officials today.  

Officials of both governments were overjoyed at killing the most wanted man in Iraq, who was the mastermind of several terrorist attacks and multiple violent murders in Iraq.

President Bush, commenting on the death said, "The ideology of terror has lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders. Zarqawi's death is a severe blow to al Qaeda."

However, while the killing does deal a blow to the major terrorist organization in the world, the threat of terror still exists in a very real way in Iraq and abroad and Archbishop Delly hopes that new ways are found to bring peace in his country

“This is a great hope for the end of violence which torments,” the Archbishop said. “but we repeat that the best solution is always in dialogue and not in killing. Killing each other for personal reasons can not bring anything good,” Delly continued, “loving each other and not killing - this is the way to keep in mind.”

It is clearly not the way Al Qaeda is keeping in mind. Al-Qaeda in Iraq confirmed the death of its leader and vowed it will continue its "holy war" in a statement posted on the Web on Thursday.

"We want to give you the joyous news of the martyrdom of the mujahed sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," said the statement, signed by "Abu Abdel- Rahman al-Iraqi," identified as the deputy "emir" or leader of al- Qaida in Iraq.

"The death of our leaders is life for us. It will only increase our persistence in continuing holy war so that the word of God will be supreme," it said.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the demise of al-Zarqawi won't end the violence in Iraq, but it is "an important step in the right direction” CNN reported.

"This is,” Khalizad said, “a message to all those who take violence as a path."

01:04 pm | Over 1,500 attend Philadelphia men’s conference

12:34 pm | Post office rate hike on mailings critical of homosexuals in the military overruled

11:05 am | Jesus is Justice in person, declares Benedict XVI at Angelus

07:50 am | Knights of Columbus rallying against ‘immoral' Philippines contraception campaign

04:52 am | Church celebrates feast of father of 10 turned hermit

Pope denounces attacks in Iraq

Cleveland Bishop honors fallen soldiers in Iraq during special Mass

Archbishop hopes for swift return of Salvadoran soldiers in Iraq

Baghdad Bishop sees bright future for Iraq