U.S. and Iraqi forces have seized money and weapons from a Baghdad potato chip factory that they allege was being used as a bomb-making facility.

The factory, in the Karada district of Iraq’s capital, was also suspected of being used in the "funding of terrorist operations," officials said.

Around $150,000 in U.S. dollars and Iraqi dinar was seized during the operation.

"We will continue to work with our Iraqi Security Force partners to disable terrorist networks and prevent future attacks," Lt. Col. William McRae, commander of the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. "If our investigation finds that there is no wrongdoing, all property taken will be returned to its rightful owner."

Kurds extend mandate of provincial councilsSULAIMANIYAH, Iraq — Kurdish lawmakers have extended the mandate of the provincial councils in their semiautonomous region in northern Iraq through the end of the year.

The move comes as Iraqis prepare to choose local councils elsewhere.

The Kurds have responsibility for the three provinces that comprise their territory and will not participate in the Jan. 31 vote. But they have not set a date for their own.

The regional parliament’s speaker, Adnan al-Mufti, said Thursday the Kurds need time to agree to an elections law for their territory.

He says the Kurds hope to come up with a law so they can set a date for a vote by the end of the year.

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