US, Iraqi forces detain provincial leader-officials

KERBALA, June 15 (Reuters) US and Iraqi forces detained a senior Shi'ite official after raiding his home in the holy southern city of Kerbala early today, Iraqi officials said.

The US military said it could not confirm the reported arrest of Akeel al-Zubaidi, head of the provincial council in Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) south of Baghdad.

Akeel al-Khaza'li, governor of the province of Kerbala, told Reuters the raid took place at about 1 a.m. (0230 hrs ISI) and said US and Iraqi forces had carried out the operation.

Zubaidi belongs to the Shi'ite Fadhila party, a member of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ruling Shi'ite Alliance coalition.

Khaza'li said a security plan was in place in Kerbala to prevent possible violence following the raid.

A spokesman for Fadhila said the arrest was ''illegal'' and demanded an investigation.

''The house of the Sheikh Akeel al-Zubaidi was brutally raided by the US and Iraqi forces,'' Hassan al-Shemari told a news conference in Baghdad.

REUTERS CH VV1701