US forces raid govt ministry building in Iraq

Baghdad, Feb 8: US and Iraqi forces raided the Health Ministry building in central Baghdad today and arrested the deputy health minister, a ministry spokesman and witnesses said.

Hakim Zamili, the deputy health minister, is a senior member of the political group loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The raid comes one day after the US military said a US-Iraqi security plan to stabilise Baghdad was under way.

There was no immediate comment from the US military, which has stepped up operations against some Sadr's supporters in recent weeks.

Reuters

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