WASSIT / Aswat al-Iraq: At least 16 leading members of Iraq's former ruling Baath Party have been detained a security operation in southern Iraq's city of Kut, the center of Wassit Province, along with dozens of other party members, a Wassit security source reported on Sunday.

 

"A joint security process in southern Iraq's Wassit Province have led to the detention 16 leading Baath Party members in the city of Kut, along with the detention of dozens of others in Wassit Province," the security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

 

He said the detention took place in response to orders from high security bodies in Baghdad, giving no further details.

 

Kut, the center of Wassit Province, is 180 km to the southeast of Baghdad.

 

SKH (TS)/SR