US forces capture 72 suspected insurgents in Iraq

US troops arrest 72 suspected insurgents and seize nitric acid along with other bomb-making materials in overnight raids on Al-Qaeda in the north and west of Baghdad.

US troops arrested 72 suspected insurgents and seized nitric acid along with other bomb-making materials in overnight raids on Al-Qaeda in the north and west of Baghdad, the US military said on Sunday.

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The raids in Samarra, some 120 km north of Baghdad, led to capture of 36 insurgents allegedly with ties to Al-Qaeda network, the military said in a statement.

Following intelligence reports, the US troops also seized 25-gallon drums of nitric acid and other bomb-making materials near Karma, a town close to restive city of Falluaja, some 50 km west of Baghdad, the statement added.

For its part, the Iraqi defence ministry said the security forces had captured 17 insurgents and 121 suspects during the past 48 hours.