US forces raid govt ministry building in Iraq

BAGHDAD: US and Iraqi forces raided the Health Ministry building in central Baghdad on Thursday and arrested the deputy health minister, a ministry spokesman and witnesses said.

Hakim Zamili, the deputy health minister, is a senior member of the political group loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The raid comes one day after the US military said a US-Iraqi security plan to stabilise Baghdad was under way.

There was no immediate comment from the US military, which has stepped up operations against some Sadr's supporters in recent weeks.