Progress in the fight against terrorism

Amidst bombings and assassinations, comes this good news.

Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi (search) said authorities have captured 147 suspected insurgents throughout Iraq, including the leader of an insurgent group just days after he took over for the previous chief, who was detained two months ago.

Allawi identified the man as Raad al-Doury. He took over the top post of Jaish Muhammad, which is Arabic for Muhammad's Army, from Moayad Ahmed Yasseen, who was detained in November. Allawi has accused Jaish Muhammad of killing and beheading a number of Iraqis, Arabs and foreigners in Iraq.

"Moayad Ahmed Yasseen is still confessing to his crimes and he will stand trial soon," Allawi said. "Every day the terrorists name a new leader we capture him and they will stand trial."

Allawi said Iraqi security forces were getting stronger every day.

Every day the Iraqi forces get stronger, the government gets stronger and the terrorists get weaker. Do not be deceived by the spectacular bombings and assassinations that are publicized round the clock. They are only part of what's going on in Iraq.

Here's more good news.

Iraqi authorities have detained 147 suspected insurgents throughout the country, including a Saudi citizen, the government said Monday.

A government statement identified the Saudi as Abdullah Hussein Ali (search), saying he was captured with three Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul. The statement said Ali was found with "leaflets that incite terrorism."

Iraqi Army troops searched Sumar Mosque (search) in Mosul and captured five suspected insurgents, the statement said, while in Baghdad's Mashtal neighborhood, the statement said 27 "terrorists" were detained with their weapons.

In the southern neighborhoods of Qaraghol and Sayed Abdullah 32 more suspected terrorists were detained while in the northeastern town of Mansouriyat al-Jabal 79 suspects were captured along with weapons and ammunition.

UPDATE: Sam at Hammorabi reports on several developments, including a new group named Brigades of Iraqana that has placed a price on the heads of terrorists and claims to know who many of them are.