Iraqi police say security forces killed at least nine suspected al-Qaida militants during operations just north of Baghdad.

The U.S. military says it detained 14 suspected terrorists in operations Saturday and Friday aimed at disrupting al-Qaida fighters in central Iraq.

In Baghdad today, a barrage of rockets or mortars struck the city's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government headquarters. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

Moqtada Al-Sadr (file photo)

The Green Zone has been a frequent target of rocket and mortar attacks. The U.S. military has blamed the attacks on Iranian-backed Shi'ite militants who have broken away from radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Sadr said Friday he is extending a truce between his Mahdi army militia and U.S. and Iraqi forces for another six months.

The truce has been credited for reducing violence in Iraq by 60 percent since June.

In other news, the head of the Iraqi Journalists Union was shot and seriously wounded in Baghdad today. Shihab al-Timimi, who is in his mid-70s, was attacked by gunmen in a speeding car while driving with his son.

Also, the U.S. military says Iraqi army and coalition forces detained 27 suspects and discovered four weapons caches in Ninewa province in northwestern Iraq. A statement says troops also arrested a hostage from an underground prison.

Some information for this report was provided by  Reuters, AFP and AP.