89 wanted men arrested in Diwaniya

DIWANIYA / IraqiNews.com: A total of 89 wanted men were arrested on Monday in the west of Diwaniya, the director of the checkpoints affairs said. “The police arrested 89 wanted men for being involved in killing and kidnapping operations during a wide-scale security operation lasted for six months in al-Shanafiya district in west of Diwaniya, including Abdullah Abu Nijm region and the strategic line near to the Iraqi-Saudi borders,” Brigadier Bassem Swadi told IraqiNews.com. “The road that links between Najaf, Diwaniya and al-Muthanna became secured after the arrest off gangs there,” Swadi added. Diwaniya, a Shiite province, lies 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad . In 2002, the population of Diwaniya was estimated at 420,000. The area around the province, which is well irrigated from the nearby Euphrates River , is often considered to be one of the most fertile parts of Iraq , and is heavily cultivated. The town is located on the main rail transport corridor between Baghdad and Basra . For birdwatchers, Diwaniya is a city with a rich bird list, as it has a wide range of biodiversity. SH (P)/SR 1