THE IRAQI ARMY SAID ON TUESDAY THAT IT ARRESTED 24 TERRORIST SUSPECTS DURING OPERATIONS TO HUNT DOWN GUNMEN IN THE SUBURBS OF MOSUL, 350 KILOMETRES NORTH OF BAGHDAD. DURING THE OPERATION, THE IRAQI TROOPS FOUND SEVERAL EXPLOSIVE DEVISES, A MILITARY SOURCE SAID. AN EXPLOSIVE-LADEN CAR WENT OFF ON MONDAY IN THE CITY, CAUSING SOME INJURIES TO CIVILIANS. ANOTHER CAR BOMB WAS DEFUSED BY THE TROOPS, THE SOURCE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE NEWS AGENCY 'DPA'. IN FURTHER VIOLENCE NINE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE WITHIN THE PAST 24 HOURS IN SEPARATE ATTACKS ACROSS THE SUBURBS OF KARBALA, 110 KILOMETRES SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL, A LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIAL SAID ON TUESDAY. ALSO, POLICE SAID THEY FOUND THE BODIES OF FIVE FARM WORKERS TUESDAY WHO WERE KIDNAPPED THE PREVIOUS DAY IN A VILLAGE NEAR BAQUBA, 60 KILOMETRES NORTH-EAST OF BAGHDAD. THE BODIES OF THE FARM WORKERS, WHO HAD BEEN SNATCHED BY GUNMEN FROM THEIR FARM, SHOWED SIGNS OF TORTURE AND GUNSHOT WOUNDS, A POLICE SOURCE SAID. MEANWHILE, TWO US SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS DURING OPERATIONS IN ANBAR PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO A US MILITARY STATEMENT RELEASED LATE MONDAY.
