BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) -- Counter-offensives by the security forces over the past year have largely rid Iraq of foreign fighters recruited by insurgent groups such as Al-Qaeda, a top police commander said on Monday.

"Arab fighters have left Iraq and we are done with them," interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf told AFP.

"Before, there were dozens and Diyala was one of their strongholds," said Khalaf who is also acting police chief for Diyala, a province northeast of Baghdad that has long been regarded as an Al-Qaeda stronghold.

"The reason behind this is security in the country and the growing strength of the state," he said.

"Now there is no possibility that insurgent fighters can control one government office as they used to do in the past when they were attacking police centres.

"This does not exist any more. In addition to that, they have lost safe houses."

Iraqi security forces have launched a series of offensives against Al-Qaeda strongholds this year, notably Diyala and the main northern city of Mosul.

Some 50,000 Iraqi security personnel have been deployed in Diyala with US backing since July.

More than 800 people were detained in the offensive before the government suspended military operations last month giving insurgents a grace period to turn themselves in.

But only 24 hours later suicide bombers struck in two separate attacks in the province, while last week a suicide bomber thwarted a security check at a police recruiting centre and blew himself up, killing 25.