US captures 'troop killers'

Shiite insurgents responsible for a sophisticated attack on US troops have been captured, the American military said today.

In the January 20 attack, gunmen wearing US military uniforms, speaking English and carrying American weapons abducted four US soldiers at Karbala's provincial headquarters and later shot them dead. A fifth soldier was killed during the attack.

A statement said the arrests took place over the past three days in the cities of Basra and Hillah south of Baghdad.

The military said the network was led by Qais Khazali and his brother Laith Khazali. Several other members of the network also were captured.

The network was "directly connected" to the kidnapping and murders, the military said.