Twelve suspected militants detained in Ghazni

Security officials arrested 12 suspected militants in the Andar district of the central province of Ghazni on January 30, officials said. The suspects were arrested by local officials in a mopping-up operation conducted jointly by the Afghan National Army and US-led Coalition troops. Provincial governor Haji Shir Alam said that of the 12, five are believed to have been heavily involved in recent violent incidents in the province. He added that the suspects are under interrogation and more details will be released later. The governor said that local security officials defused two landmines the same day in the Chardiwal area, also in Andar district.