Saudi security forces arrested 18 suspected militants in a sweep of the northern town of Zulfi, Saudi newspapers said on Friday. They said the men, 17 Saudis and one Afghan man, were arrested in a 24-hour search which began on Wednesday night and ended at dusk on Thursday in Zulfi, about 280 km north of the capital Riyadh. Al Jazirah newspaper said the detained men were members of the "deviant group" -- a phrase used by the government to describe al Qaeda militants who have waged a series of suicide bombings and other attacks in Saudi Arabia since May 2003. It said security forces found militant publications in their possession. Officials were not immediately able to confirm the reports.