60 detained in Baghdad in relation to insurgent attacks

Iraqi special forces backed by US troops raided houses in Baghdad today and detained at least 60 suspected insurgents.

The operation began at about 6am local time and was being conducted in several south-western Baghdad neighbourhoods, with security forces searching homes, stopping cars at checkpoints and frisking people, said police Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi.

It was not immediately clear why the operation was launched, but there has been a large number ambushes and drive-by killings in the targeted sector of Baghdad during the past week.