8 arrested in Kirkuk

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: The Kirkuk Districts’ Police Department forces captured eight persons, including a number wanted, south of the city, a senior security official said on Tuesday. “Security forces conducted a search raid at a late hour on Monday night and lasted until today morning, which resulted in the capture of eight persons, including a number wanted by security authorities, in six villages overlooking the Hamrin mountains ridge in Daqquq district, (40 km) south of Kirkuk,” Brig. Sarhad Qader, the department chief, told IraqiNews.com. “The raiding force also seized two vehicles used in acts of sabotage, 11 Kalashnikov assault rifles and papers belonging to the al-Awda party,” Qader added. Al-Awda (Return) is an outlawed party the government and the Iraqi ministry of interior had warned of joining. Iraqi authorities believe that al-Awda is a new face for the disbanded Baath Party after the fall of the former regime in 2003. Iraq’s constitution has banned the Baath’s activities and membership. The oil-rich city of Kirkuk lies 250 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. AmR (S) 1