Tens Of Militants Reported Killed In Iraq Raid

(RFE/RL) February 24, 2007 -- Iraq's Interior Ministry says Iraqi forces supported by U.S. aircraft killed "tens" of militants during a raid on their hideout just north of Baghdad today.

Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf said Iraqi forces captured Saad Akram Khalifa, a leader of the Islamic Army in Iraq. The majority of the group's fighters are believed to be former members of executed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party and armed forces.

In Baghdad today, at least one car bomb went off killing at least two people and injuring more than a dozen.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today said 426 suspected militants have been detained and "around that number have been killed" since a major security crackdown was launched in the capital ten days ago.

(Reuters, AFP)