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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fierce clashes shake west Baghdad | Fierce clashes shake west Baghdad |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft have clashed with Sunni fighters in the centre of the Iraqi capital. | US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft have clashed with Sunni fighters in the centre of the Iraqi capital. |
| The security forces were trying to regain control over the insurgent dominated area around Baghdad's Haifa Street, a US military spokesman said. | The security forces were trying to regain control over the insurgent dominated area around Baghdad's Haifa Street, a US military spokesman said. |
| The fighting came as part of a renewed security drive in a city in the throes of insurgent and sectarian violence. | The fighting came as part of a renewed security drive in a city in the throes of insurgent and sectarian violence. |
| Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has promised to take tough action against illegal armed groups in Baghdad. | Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has promised to take tough action against illegal armed groups in Baghdad. |
| The Iraqi and US troops were backed by American fighter jets and military helicopters. Witnesses said the helicopters had fired into the area. | The Iraqi and US troops were backed by American fighter jets and military helicopters. Witnesses said the helicopters had fired into the area. |
| Eyewitnesses also reported a fierce firefight with a steady barrage of mortar and machine-gun fire. | |
| Police sources told the BBC that the Haifa Street clashes follow two days of violence on the west bank of the Tigris, after an Iraqi army unit found 27 bodies dumped in the nearby Sheikh Marouf cemetery | Police sources told the BBC that the Haifa Street clashes follow two days of violence on the west bank of the Tigris, after an Iraqi army unit found 27 bodies dumped in the nearby Sheikh Marouf cemetery |
| The military sent in troops to arrest those responsible for the killings, triggering the clashes. | The military sent in troops to arrest those responsible for the killings, triggering the clashes. |
| 'Foreigners' arrested | 'Foreigners' arrested |
| Early on Tuesday morning, gunmen attacked Iraqi military checkpoints leading to the cemetery. | Early on Tuesday morning, gunmen attacked Iraqi military checkpoints leading to the cemetery. |
| The Iraqi forces called for support from their US counterparts, and together they sealed off the district and began house-to-house raids. | The Iraqi forces called for support from their US counterparts, and together they sealed off the district and began house-to-house raids. |
| An interior ministry spokesman said 11 people had been arrested, including seven Syrian nationals. | An interior ministry spokesman said 11 people had been arrested, including seven Syrian nationals. |
| The Haifa Street clashes broke out hours after Mr Maliki announced a new security plan for Baghdad. | The Haifa Street clashes broke out hours after Mr Maliki announced a new security plan for Baghdad. |
| The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says it is not clear whether the current raids are a part of that plan. | The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says it is not clear whether the current raids are a part of that plan. |
| "This area has been subject to insurgent activity which has repeatedly disrupted Iraqi security force operation in central Baghdad," US spokesmen Lt Col Scott Bleichwehl said in a statement. | "This area has been subject to insurgent activity which has repeatedly disrupted Iraqi security force operation in central Baghdad," US spokesmen Lt Col Scott Bleichwehl said in a statement. |