Iraqi National Guard forces have captured 40 foreign fighters in Samarra since reclaiming the central city from insurgents in a two-day assault with U.S. troops last week, Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said in remarks broadcast Monday. Speaking to the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite news station, Shaalan said the captives included Egyptians, Sudanese and a Tunisian. "They were handed over to coalition forces and after they are interrogated they will be handed over again to Iraqi forces," he said. But he said "many" insurgents managed to escape from the city. "We could have killed more, but we wanted to liberate the city," he said. "We will fight them if they don't come back to their senses." The minister said foreign fighters constituted "a dangerous link" to rebel operations taking place in Baghdad and other areas of the country. The countries of the foreign suspects want them to stand trial at home, but Iraqi courts will "take part in the investigation and the verdicts," Shaalan said without providing details.