Al-Qaeda militants arrested in Iraq

Iraq\'s defense ministry said its military arrested 14 suspected al-Qaida militants in Baghdad and another 18 suspects in Basra. \"A force from the Iraqi army\'s 17th Division carried out a raid and search operation in Arab Jubour, Sayyid Abdullah and Latifiya, south of Baghdad, and arrested 14 al-Qaida members,\" the ministry said in a statement Tuesday. In the statement the defense ministry said, \"During the operation, the unit found weapons and ammunitions cache containing 25 improvised explosive devices and 680 mortar shells.\" The al-Shorfa newspaper Wednesday quoted Maj. Gen. Faisal al-Ibadi, Basra police chief, as saying, \"Eight of the detainees were involved in various terrorist crimes and are affiliated with al-Qaida, while the other 10 were arrested in connection with criminal charges related to murders, thefts and drug dealing.\"