It was the first incident of widespread arrests during the World Cup, which began Friday.

In the last two years, the military crackdown has led to widespread arrests and defections from the Shining Path.

In December 1982, the dam site was occupied by protesters, leading to widespread arrests and greater publicity.

Starting in August 1975, widespread arrests were conducted including members of the dissolved parliament.

Civil liberties groups argue that the widespread arrests are a sign of a dangerous erosion of rights.

In recent days, opposition newspapers have reported widespread arrests and interrogations of fundamentalists.

Western travelers leaving the region have spoken of heavy security and widespread arrests.

But later in the day, the news agency said it had made contact with diplomats in Baghdad who had reported widespread arrests.

Today, officials said widespread arrests for long periods, house demolitions and shutdowns of Hamas institutions were all possible soon.

There has been a deluge of criticism recently from human rights groups about widespread arrests, torture and repression.