The U.S. military says coalition forces have killed seven terrorists and detained 20 suspects during operations in central and northern Iraq.
A military statement says raids Thursday and Wednesday targeted mainly roadside bombers and al-Qaida fighters.
The military says one detainee was an alleged member of a bombing network that supplies suicide vests for attacks against Iraqis. Another captured in an operation targeting al-Qaida fighters was a suspected roadside bombing coordinator.
As the war in Iraq enters its sixth year, Iraqis gathered today on the site in Baghdad where U.S. forces and local residents removed Saddam Hussein's statue in April, 2003.
Some Iraqis told APTN Television they had not reaped the benefits they thought would follow Saddam's removal from power.
One Baghdad resident said Iraqis hoped their living standards would improve, but he said they have seen only killings, looting, explosions and kidnapping.
On Wednesday, President Bush said he is pleased with the political situation in Iraq, but not yet satisfied because there is more work to be done.
Mr. Bush said in an interview with VOA that he is pleased to see a democracy movement in Iraq.
But he said one problem facing the country comes from what he called "negative Iranian influence," citing the exportation of Iranian weapons used by extremists inside Iraq. He said a peaceful Iraq would be in the long-term interests of the Iranian people.
In violence today, authorities say explosions in the northern city of Mosul killed one person and wounded at least 19 others.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
