U.S. detains Iraq colonel suspected of militia ties

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military detained an Iraqi police colonel on Thursday on suspicion of aiding Shi'ite militias in Baghdad in attacks on Sunni Arabs.

Colonel Thamir al-Husayni, also known as Abu Turab, is alleged to have targeted Sunnis wanted by Shi'ite militias as well as ordering his men to abuse detainees and force detainees into wrongful confessions, the military said in a statement.

"His arrest is the most recent in a series of arrests focused on members of the Iraqi Security Forces who are complicit with illegal and militia activities," the statement added.

It said 11 members of Iraq's security forces had been detained since May. Iraq's national police force has long been plagued by accusations of sectarianism.