Baghdad - At least 150 suspects and wanted people were arrested during a military operation by joint US-Iraqi forces in the northern city of Kirkuk, a security source said Wednesday.

Halkout Abdullah said that the operation, which started three days ago, was initiated after they got information that al-Qaeda members escaped from Diyala province to Kirkuk.

Abdullah added that there were four high ranking al-Qaeda members among the detainees.

In Diyala province, 24 al-Qaeda members were arrested by US and Iraqi forces, a source told Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency.

An Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman said that security forces arrested 65 wanted persons Wednesday in the southern Babil province.

Mohamed al-Askary told VOI that the Iraqi army has also found a huge amount of ammunition during the operation. (dpa)