Report: 50 arrested in raid in Diwaniya

An Iraqi soldier scans for snipers in Diwaniya yesterday

Diwaniya, Apr. 8 (VOI) – Fifty people were arrested in a raid in the northern part of al-Diwaniya conducted by forces from the Iraqi army's 8th Division backed by U.S. and Polish troops as curfew is still active in the predominantly Shiite city, a security source said.

"The Iraqi-U.S.-Polish force cordoned the neighborhoods of Eastern and Western Aaskari and al-Jalbiya," the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

U.S. fighter planes and helicopters are hovering at a low altitude in Diwaniya, capital of al-Qadissiya, 180 km south of Baghdad, the source added.

The Multi-National Force had announced on Friday that its troops and Iraq's 8th Division have already embarked on Operation Black Eagle to impose order in Diwaniya.

The announcement was followed by clashes between these forces and armed men from Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militias.

From VOI

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