140 arrested in latest crackdown

US troops discovered as many as 14 weapon caches and seized at least 140 people during the initial phase of the latest security crackdown in Baghdad.

The latest plan, which saw more than 7,400 patrols and 34 operations conducted from February 3 to 9, is the third effort to secure the capital since Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki took office on May 20.

"With the cache finds this week, the detentions we've made and creating a larger presence on Baghdad streets with the establishment of another combat outpost, we are making headway with the Baghdad security plan," US Brigadier General John Campbell said. "This is only the beginning."

The new plan sees Baghdad being divided into nine zones, with Iraqi and American soldiers working together to clear each sector of Shiite militias and Sunni insurgents so that reconstruction programs can begin in safety.

Campbell said that there had been a great concentration on humanitarian and economic efforts - including a new business centre at Baghdad International Airport and a new high school for girls to the north of Baghdad.