Iraq's leading Sunni party said yesterday that it is cutting contact with the US to protest against an operation targeting its members in the Anbar province.

The Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, said in a statement that it has decided to suspend all formal contact with American civilian or military personnel until it receives an explanation along with a formal apology.

The Friday operation at a village near the city of Falluja led to the death of people and arrests of five -- all senior members of the party in Falluja, according to the statement.

The US military said it provided support to Iraqi troops in the raid, in which one suspected terrorist leader was captured and another militant was killed.

The party demands the release of the arrested people and compensation.

The incident happened as Iraqi political parties are reviewing a key security agreement draft which will provide legal status for the US troops in Iraq in the following years.