87 wanted men, suspects arrested in Diala

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: Police forces arrested 87 wanted and suspected gunmen, including 25 al-Qaeda elements, during operations waged in the past four days, the chief of Diala police said on Monday. “Policemen launched military operations in the past four days in separate areas of Diala, where they arrested 87 people, including 25 al-Qaeda wanted men,” General Abdul Hussein al-Shimri told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Security authorities finalized all preparations for protecting the electoral centers,” he added, noting that the forces also found a weapons depot during the operations. The provincial council elections are due to be held on January 31 in 14 out of 18 Iraqi provinces. Baaquba, the capital of Diala, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad. SH (P)/SR 1