Iraqi police arrest 4 militants in Falljuah, seize heavy arms

6 protesters and 2 soldiers died in the violent clampdown on Friday Baghdad – Jaafar Nasrawi Iraqi security forces have detained four insurgents who were transporting heavy weapons in a civilian vehicle north of Fallujah, well-informed sources told Arabstoday .
Sources said: “On Saturday evening police forces arrested four gunmen in a civilian car while they were passing a checkpoint in Tharthar Street, north of Falluja.” Weapons found in the vehicle included RPG rocket launchers, sticky bombs and PK machine-guns.
The source, speaking on conditions of anonymity, added: “Police transferred detainees to the police station for interrogation without giving further details."
Violence is on the rise in Fallujah, 62 kilometres west of Baghdad, since anti-government clashes left 6 protesters and 2 soldiers dead.
Three soldiers have also been kidnapped by gunmen on the international highway east of Fallujah, following a shooting which killed another soldier in an observation tower, north of the city.
Masked gunmen reportedly intercepted three members of the Iraqi army’s First Division, forcing them out of a vehicle at gunpoint before taking the men to an unknown destination. The abduction took place just one kilometre away from a police checkpoint.
Friday's fatal Fallujah protests have meanwhile sparked nationwide condemnation by parties across Iraq’s political spectrum, after 6 protesters and 2 soldiers died in clashes.
Moqtada al-Sadr denounced the “armed attack” on unarmed protesters, meanwhile calling for more peaceful demonstrations.
Prominent Sunni cleric, Sheikh Abdul Malik al-Saadi accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of attempting to turn peaceful demonstrations into bloody clashes by killing protesters.
Some demonstrators have even called for taking up arms to defend themselves against the army. Politicians, ministers and judges have meanwhile demanded a nationwide boycott of political processes in Iraq.
The Iraqi National Dialogue Front, led by Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, has announced its withdrawl from upcoming elections in protest against the Fallujah incident.