WASHINGTON, June 8: The United States has not identified anyone eligible to receive the $25 million bounty offered for information leading to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s capture or death, the State Department said on Thursday.

No US government agency has nominated anybody for the reward, which is the largest the United States offers, along with the same amount for Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

“I’ve seen a lot of news reports that either a Jordanian individual or group provided information or perhaps a neighbour provided information which led to the strike being carried out successfully. I can’t confirm those reports,” Mr McCormack said.

The State Department’s ‘Rewards for Justice’ program has paid out more than $60 million in the last few years for information that prevented attacks or led to the capture or killing of top US enemies.

Under the program, the United States paid $30 million for a tip that helped the military find and kill Saddam Hussein’s sons, Uday and Qusay.

There was no reward paid in Saddam’s capture, which was considered to be the result of intelligence and a military operation that did not depend on a tip.—Reuters