Iraqi cleric freed after US raid

Baghdad: A 70-year-old Sunni cleric has been released on Saturday hours after US forces detained him, Iraqi officials said.

Supporters of Sheik Jamal Abdul Karim Al Dabban criticised the detention as "outrageous" and have gathered outside his home in Tikrit to protest.

Al Dabban's two sons were also detained following a US raid based on "bad intelligence", officials from Salaheddin province said.

The officials told CNN that the US military apologized to Al Dabban and to the provincial governor and the head of the provincial council.

The Iraqi Islamic Party lashed at the US move as "foolish" and said that "these outrageous violations are only going to worsen the security situation in the country."

Salaheddin's Deputy Governor Abdullah Hussain Ajbara said the US had no reason to detain Al Dabban, whom he said is "against terrorism and sectarianism."