Iraq says arrests killers of Arabiya TV reporter

BAGHDAD, Mar 18 (Reuters) Six suspects in the killing of the correspondent of Al-Arabiya television in Iraq have been arrested during a US and Iraqi operation against insurgents north of Baghdad, the government said today.

A statement from the prime minister's office quoted Defence Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi as saying that the suspects were seized in the Samarra area. Atwar Bahjat and two colleagues were shot dead near Samarra in February.

Dulaimi said the suspects would be shown today ortomorrow.

In the past 10 days, suspected insurgents have murdered three Iraqi journalists and one media support worker, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday, raising the death toll to 67 journalists and 24 media support workers killed since the war began on March 20, 2003.

REUTERS DKS PM1742