Germany arrests two 'Iraqi spies'

The two men are suspected of spying for Baghdad

Two Iraqis have been arrested in Germany on urgent suspicion of spying.

The German federal prosecutor's office said that the two were suspected of working for an Iraqi intelligence agency.

"The two accused are suspected of having carried out missions on behalf of an Iraqi intelligence agency in various cities in Germany since the beginning of the year 2001," a brief statement said.

The two men have not been identified.

They were detained on 25 and 27 February on the orders of Kay Nehm, the federal prosecutor.

They then appeared separately before a federal judge who ordered they be held in investigative custody.

German public television reported that they were arrested in the university town of Heidelberg south of Frankfurt.

Investigations are continuing.