BAGHDAD, April 5 (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces have detained two men believed to be behind a truck bomb attack in the northern town of Tal Afar last week that killed 152 people, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

In a statement, the military said the two suspects were detained at a house northwest of Tal Afar on Tuesday.

The truck bombing of a Shi'ite neighbourhood was the single deadliest insurgent attack of the four-year-old war.

It triggered a reprisal shooting spree by police and gunmen in a Sunni district of Tal Afar that left 47 men dead. Shi'ites dominate the police force.

The military statement said the two arrested men were also believed to be responsible for attacks on American and Iraqi forces. It said 19 other "suspicious individuals" were detained in the raid.

U.S. commanders have blamed al Qaeda for the truck bombing.

AlertNet news is provided by