11 nabbed in Kirkuk

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: A total of 11 persons on Sunday were arrested during a security operation in southwestern Kirkuk city, a local police chief said. “Today, police and army forces conducted a raid-and-search operation in Hamrin Mountains villages, Kirkuk, during which 11 wanted persons and suspects were captured,” Brigadier Sarhad Qadir told IraqiNews.com. “Two vehicles, 21 pieces of unlicensed weapons, 11 mortar shells, and seven anti-craft missiles were seized during the operation,” according to the brigadier. Kirkuk, 250 km (156 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sits on the ruins of a 5,000-year-old settlement. Because of the strategic geographical location of the city, Kirkuk was the battle ground for three empires, Assyria, Babylonia and Media which controlled the city at various times. SS (P)/SR 1