MOSUL, Iraq, Jan 17 (AFP) - Seven insurgents have been killed and 12 arrested over the past 24 hours in Iraq's restive northern city of Mosul, the US military said Monday.
US forces have escalated their operations in Mosul ahead of the January 30 elections in an attempt to thwart insurgent efforts to derail the polls.
On Monday, US troops shot dead five suspected insurgents on the east side of the city, said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kurilla, providing no further details.
Late Sunday, soldiers also killed two insurgents in their car. They found mortars, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, sniper rifles, ammunition and Iraqi police uniforms in the vehicle.
The deaths followed the reported shooting of five insurgents on Sunday in the insurgency stronghold area of Yarmuk on the city's west side.
US troops also arrested 12 suspects in overnight raids, the military said.
Ahead of the key general elections, the number of US troops in Mosul and its surrounding area stands at 12,000.
Iraqi forces are at a similar level after reinforcements were sent to Mosul, following the collapse of the local police in November, said Brigadier General Carter Ham, US commander in Nineveh province.
01/17/2005 16:59 GMT - AFP