US troops capture 16 Iraqi militants

U.S. forces killed one suspected militant and captured 16 others in raids across Iraq on Friday morning, the military said.

Among those detained was an alleged al-Qaida operative who worked in the group's media operation, the military said in a statement. The man was captured along with seven others northeast of Karmah, 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Baghdad, the AP reports.

The seven were believed to be part of an al-Qaida courier network, the statement said.

Nearby in Fallujah, 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad, U.S. troops captured two men accused of helping foreign fighters come to Iraq, it said.

And in Mosul, American forces arrested an alleged al-Qaida suspect believed to be responsible for kidnappings, beheadings and suicide attacks, the statement said. Five other suspects were detained there, and one was killed, it said.

Mosul lies about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.