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Dozens killed in Baghdad clashes Dozens killed in Baghdad clashes
(about 5 hours later)
Dozens of militia fighters have been killed during fierce clashes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the US military has said. Thirty-eight Shia militia fighters have been killed in two days of 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. A US military spokesman told the BBC that an operation was going on in Sadr City to "clear the area of criminals" and militants firing rockets.
Militants launched attacks during a sandstorm, leading to the most violent clashes reported for several weeks. Sadr City is a Baghdad stronghold of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Several checkpoints were targeted and the heavily protected Green Zone also came under fire. Militants had taken advantage of a sandstorm on Sunday to shell the heavily protected Green Zone, officials said.
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 initially made difficult by the sandstorm, the BBC's Clive Myrie reports from Baghdad.
Sadr rejection
The Green Zone, the vast complex housing government offices and foreign embassies, was still being hit by rocket or mortar attacks early on Monday.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.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.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.
A US military spokesman in Baghdad, Major Mark Cheadle, told the BBC the upsurge in violence followed an operation to end rocket attacks on the capital's International Zone.
"We've established a combined civil-military operations centre with representatives from the government of Iraq," he said.
"We've been there since actually about October but we just started to clear the areas of criminals and those who are attacking with rockets inside the IZ [International Zone - the military's term for the Green Zone] and hurting innocent civilians in and around the IZ."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said he wants to disarm all militants operating outside the control of the central government.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.More than 400 people have been killed in Sadr City in recent weeks.