A wounded Iraqi civilian waits to be treated at a local hospital in Baghdad, 12 June 2006

Al-Qaida in Iraq has named a successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, saying it will continue in the slain leader's path.

In an Internet posting Monday, al-Qaida said Sheik Abu Hamza al-Muhajer would be its new leader in Iraq.

The announcement came as the U.S. military released Zarqawi's autopsy results, which indicated he died of injuries caused by U.S. bombs dropped last week on a house where he was staying.

The autopsy said damage to Zarqawi's lungs killed him. Doctors said there was no sign that he had been beaten or suffered gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, bombings on Monday killed five people in Balad and 16 in Baghdad, and the U.S. military said a coalition airstrike killed seven al-Qaida-linked insurgents and two children near Baquba.

U.S. Major General William Caldwell said the childrens' deaths were unfortunate, but they were inside a house with insurgents who were shooting at U.S. forces.

In court, the judge in the trial of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein ordered the removal from the courtroom of Saddam's half-brother and co-defendant, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti after he shouted at the judge.

Also, Saddam's American lawyer, Curtis Doebbler, lashed out at the court, saying it was not giving the defense enough time to present its case.