Iraqi authorities detained 52 members of the underground al-Qaida organization Monday in a town south of Baghdad, a police source said, Xinhua reported.
The source told reporters that the al-Qaida members detained in the town of Jurf al-Sakhar, about 30 km south of Baghdad, had been behind a series of terrorist attacks against Iraqi security forces as well as civilian targets.
The source did not give further details.
The source added that government security forces have discovered a large arms and ammunition depot in the same town, including several bombs and ammunition.
Iraqi security forces have been taking strict measures to curb violence and ensure the stability of the war-torn country, while sporadic attacks continue in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities and towns after U.S. combat forces' pullout on June 30.