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Dozens killed in Baghdad clashes | Dozens killed in Baghdad clashes |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Dozens of militia fighters have been killed during fierce clashes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the US military has said. | |
Twenty-two militants died in a single incident, when US tanks opened fire to repel an attack on a checkpoint. | Twenty-two militants died in a single incident, when US tanks opened fire to repel an attack on a checkpoint. |
Most of the fighting reported was in Sadr City, a Baghdad stronghold of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. | |
Militants launched attacks during a sandstorm, leading to the most violent clashes reported for several weeks. | Militants launched attacks during a sandstorm, leading to the most violent clashes reported for several weeks. |
Several checkpoints were targeted and the heavily protected Green Zone also came under fire. | Several checkpoints were targeted and the heavily protected Green Zone also came under fire. |
Local residents stayed indoors and aerial military operations by US forces were made difficult by the sandstorm, the BBC's Clive Myrie reports from Baghdad. | Local residents stayed indoors and aerial military operations by US forces were made difficult by the sandstorm, the BBC's Clive Myrie reports from Baghdad. |
The Green Zone, the vast complex housing government offices and foreign embassies, was still being hit by rocket or mortar attacks early on Monday. | |
US and Iraqi officials have blamed such attacks on rogue elements from the Mehdi Army, a militia loyal to Moqtada Sadr. | |
The cleric called for a ceasefire on Friday, but on Sunday he rejected the government's conditions for ending a major military campaign against Shia militias. | |
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said he wants to disarm all militants operating outside the control of the central government. | |
More than 400 people have been killed in Sadr City in recent weeks. |