US-backed Iraqi troops have engaged in a major security sweep to break illegal militias’ hold on Baghdad, arresting the Iraq health ministry’s second-highest official.

Iraqi forces today detained a senior Health Ministry official accused of corruption and helping to funnel millions of pounds to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the US military said.

Iraqi army forces arrested a high-level insurgent today who was wanted for running an assassination cell in Baghdad.