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60 gunmen arrested in Mosul city operation - Iraqi security official

IRBIL, May 10 (KUNA) -- Head of operations in Nineveh governorate affirmed Sunday the arrest of 60 gunmen in the first day of anti-terrorism operations in Mosul city.
Lieut-General Jalal Tawfeeq said in a press conference at his headquarters that operations included several areas in city of Mosul, adding that Iraqi troops were on the pursuit of Al-Qaeda operatives in the region.
The operation, which began early today, was not announced officially to the public until 6 a.m. local-time, said Tawfeeq who added that the new operation was a continuation to previous ones, but on a broader scale.
The security official ruled out the possibility of a huge armed clash with Qaeda operatives though he expressed wishes that a thing would happen in order for the army and police to resolve the matter once and for all.
Tawfeeq did not deny or confirm the participation of the Sahwa (Awakening) council members in the operation which he indicated would last until Mosul was clear from all Qaeda members.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post said Saturday that the current mission in Mosul, dubbed the lion roar operation, would measure the ability of the Iraqi army and police in handling security in northern Iraq.
The newspaper quoted a sourced at the US army as saying that the operation in Mosul was initiated and planned by the Iraqi army and police.
The US army also said that the operation in Mosul could not be compared to the one Fallujah in 2004 in which the MNF fought with Islamist extremists in the area.
US military officials also told the Washington Post that the Iraqi army and police have achieved a great amount of progress in the last few months.
But the Washington Post indicated that locals in Mosul view the Iraqi army as an extension of the Kurdish Bishmarka force which was assigned to protect the Kurd majority in the north.
Mosul was scene for two huge terrorist bombings in January which left 205 people either dead or injured.
The attacks led Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to send several operations to the city in order to get rid of all terrorists. (end) sbr.gta KUNA 102147 May 08NNNN