Eight Saudi nationals were arrested by Iraqi police after they infiltrated into the war-torn country, media reports said on Sunday.

Police sources told local media that the eight armed men were detained in the southern province of Muthana bordering on Saudi Arabia before they could carry out attacks.

Colonel Kareem Hlebit from the local police force said "the police of the governorate arrested eight Saudis found illegally entering Iraq and intending to launch attacks against Iraqi citizens and the multinational forces."

Hlebit said evidence was found that another Saudi man was financing the team and encouraging them to carry out operations. Hegave no further details.

The interim Iraqi government and the US forces have always blamed foreign militants for mounting attacks on US and Iraqi government interests.