Baghdad - US forces in Iraq killed a man suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda and arrested 18 other suspects Wednesday, the US military said.

US forces made the arrests during a crackdown on al-Qaeda militants in central Iraq.

Meanwhile, in the city of Talafar in Nineveh province, Iraqi police extended a curfew on the city after rumors that two explosive-laden cars had entered the city.

The police imposed the curfew on Monday, the first day of the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha, the Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency reported.

Iraqi police and army personnel met in Talafar on Wednesday to further discuss the curfew. They agreed in their meeting to continue the curfew until the two cars are confiscated. (dpa)