BAGHDAD, April 13 (Xinhuanet) -- An extremist Islamic group linked to the al-Qaida terror network claimed Wednesday the responsibility for the car bombing near Baghdad's airport, an internet statement said.

    "A member of our martyrdom seekers' brigade mingled in a US military convoy at the airport road and blew himself up, destroying the infidels," the statement said in the name of "al-Qaida of Holy War in Iraq".

    The statement could not be independently verified.

    The group's leader, believed to be the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, remained the top enemy of US forces in Iraq. A bounty of 25 million dollars has been put on his head.

    Earlier, witnesses said a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden car into a US military convoy at about 10:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) on the main road leading to Baghdad's airport, destroying a US Humvee and damaging five civilian cars.

    The road leading to Baghdad International Airport is the most dangerous route in the Iraqi capital, with up to 15 daily attacks targeting the US troops after two years of the invasion in March 2003. Enditem