Dozens held in north Iraq raids

Iraqi security forces have arrested 74 people in a series of raids in the northern city of Mosul, officials say.

The raids targeted criminals and "terrorists", an Iraqi defence ministry spokesman said.

One hostage was freed in the course of the operations and two car bombs were also defused.

The detainees were said to include members of al-Qaeda. The US army has said that Mosul is the last big urban stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

"The operation started yesterday and ended today and led to the arrest of 74 terrorists wanted by the Iraqi forces," Major General Mohammed el-Askari, the defence ministry spokesman, told AFP, the French news agency.

"They are from various terrorist groups, especially from al-Qaeda," he said.

"We did the raids according to intelligence information and before they could implement their plans. The forces also freed a person and defused two car bombs," he added, indicating that the arrested people were planning to carry out attacks.