Iraqi troops have dismantled and detonated about three metric tons of explosives found near oil fields in southern Iraq, a military spokesman said Tuesday. The explosives, including 1,282 mines, 628 mortar rounds and 825 artillery shells, were discovered by the government's Oil Protection Services, which notified the army, Capt. Firas al-Tamimi said. The explosions were near oil installations in the Shueiba and Rumeila fields, he was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. The explosive were later moved to an area in Shueiba, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Basra, where they were detonated, he said.