US says killed 93 Qaeda-linked fighters in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 22 (Reuters) The US military today said 93 rebels were killed and 57 captured in a 10-day operation against al Qaeda-linked insurgents northeast of Baghdad.

In an unusually detailed video news conference broadcast to journalists in Baghdad from Diyala province, Colonel David Sutherland said Iraqi troops had fought well in the operation and were improving their capabilities every day.

He said 25 weapons caches, including around 1,200 Katyusha rockets, had been found during operations dating back to November in the area around a remote village called Turki.

Sutherland said U.S. and Iraqi forces had gradually isolated the insurgents since November before launching the 10-day assault backed by air strikes from January 4 to 14. Last week, the Iraqi army said it had killed about 50 rebels in the area.

''Since I've been here we have not conducted an operation ...

against a group of this size that were willing to fight us out in the open,'' Sutherland said. ''This operation shows ... there's partnership between Iraqi army and Coalition forces.'' Diyala is a violent province where Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs and ethnic Kurds are increasingly divided on sectarian lines.

REUTERS LL ND2308