5 arrested, IED defused in Basra

BASRA / IraqiNews.com: Five wanted persons were arrested and an explosive device was defused during search raids in different parts of Basra, a local police source said on Monday. “Those arrested are wanted on criminal charges,” the source told IraqiNews.com news agency. Local police forces have safely defused an explosive device found near the house of a criminal police chief in al-Andalus neighborhood, downtown Basra, the source added. The Shiite city of Basra lies 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. SS (P) 1