* BALAD - U.S. and Iraqi forces killed a suspected al Qaeda fighter and detained 55 other suspects in two separate operations on Thursday near the town of Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
* BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers detained nine suspects during an operation to disrupt al Qaeda networks in Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
Excellent news.