The U.S. military also said American and Iraqi forces have killed 104 insurgents in 452 raids nationwide since the death of the terror leader.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said sweeps across Iraq since al-Zarqawi's death led to 28 significant arms caches. He said the raids included 255 joint operations and 143 by Iraqi forces alone.

A key terror leader linked to the deaths of at least seven coalition soldiers in roadside bombs also was captured in Karbala, the U.S. military said Friday.

The military said Iraqi soldiers, assisted by coalition advisers, conducted an early morning ground assault raid Thursday in the Shiite holy city and captured "a high-ranking terrorist network commander without firing a shot."

The suspect was identified by the military as Sheik Aqeel. "Aqeel commands a Karbala terrorist network and is wanted for assassinating Iraqi citizens and planning and ordering attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces," the military said in a statement.

The security forces also captured another terrorist during in Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, and seized a substantial weapons cache, the military said, adding that no Iraqi or coalition forces were killed or wounded during the operation.

The announcement came a day after the 40-member local council in Karbala suspended its operations and demanded an apology Thursday after police said U.S. forces raided the house of the council leader Aqil al-Zubeidi, a member of the Shiite Fadila Party, and arrested him and two other council members. Council spokesman Ghalib al-Daimi denied that al-Zubeidi had any links to terrorism.

A top government official also confirmed Friday that Iraq has an agreement to take over security responsibilities from foreign forces in southern Iraq this month.

Deputy Prime Minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie was responding to a Japanese news report that British, Australian and Japanese troops will transfer security responsibilities in southern Iraq to Iraqi authorities next week, and soon withdraw from the area.

"There is an agreement to take over the security responsibilities from the British, Australian and Japanese forces in southern Iraq during this month," al-Zubaie said. "We hope that the Iraqi security forces will live up to their duties there. It is the dream of all Iraqis that our forces will handle security issues all over Iraq."

Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki announced shortly after taking office on May 20 that Iraqi security forces will start assuming full responsibility for some provinces and cities this month, beginning an 18 month process leading to the eventual withdrawal of all coalition forces.