Um Nidal, mother of three Palestinian martyrs delivering a speech at a celebration at the18th foundation anniversary of Palestinian militant group, Hamas, on Friday Dec.30, 2005, in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Hamas organized a celebration at Yarmouk refugee camp southern Damascus with participation of 2000 palestinians.(AP Photo / Bassem Tellawi)
Here's the definition of "martyr:"
1. One who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles.
2. One who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principle.
3.
1. One who endures great suffering: a martyr to arthritis.
2. One who makes a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy.
The AP's usage is technically correct, I suppose, but "martyr" has a positive connotation. Or, at least, it projects the idea that the "martyr" is a victim. That's not something I think describes suicide bombers who target innocent civilians.
Given that the terrorists/suicide bombers themselves use the term "martyr" gives us yet another reason not to use it. They see it as a term of endearment and respect. Those people deserve no such thing.