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'Hundreds' killed in Iraq battles 'Hundreds' killed in Iraq battles
(30 minutes later)
US and Iraqi troops have killed at least 300 militants in battles around the holy city of Najaf, officials say. US and Iraqi troops have killed at least 300 militants in battles around the city of Najaf, Iraqi sources say.
Fighting has continued since US-backed Iraqi army units clashed with the previously unidentified group on the northern edge of Najaf on Sunday.Fighting has continued since US-backed Iraqi army units clashed with the previously unidentified group on the northern edge of Najaf on Sunday.
Three Iraqi soldiers were killed and 21 were injured, Iraqi sources said.Three Iraqi soldiers were killed and 21 were injured, Iraqi sources said.
The US military said two of its troops died when their helicopter was shot down, but did not confirm any of the Iraqi casualty figures.The US military said two of its troops died when their helicopter was shot down, but did not confirm any of the Iraqi casualty figures.
An Iraqi official in the Najaf governor's office told the BBC that 21 Iraqi soldiers had been injured in the clashes, which occurred in a neighbourhood called Zarqa. Provincial officials said hundreds of militants died in the fighting, in the Zarqa district, news agencies reported.
"They are well-equipped and they even have anti-aircraft missiles," provincial governor Asaad Abu Gilel was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.
An Iraqi official in the Najaf governor's office told the BBC that 21 Iraqi soldiers had been injured in the clashes.
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says as yet there is no independent confirmation of the scale of casualties in the fighting and there is still uncertainty over the identity of the group of several hundred armed men.The BBC's world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says as yet there is no independent confirmation of the scale of casualties in the fighting and there is still uncertainty over the identity of the group of several hundred armed men.
Meanwhile a Washington-based think-tank says Iraq is rapidly sliding deeper into civil war.
The Brookings Institution says the fighting is likely to spill over into neighbouring countries, resulting in mass deaths, serious disruption of Gulf oil supplies and a drastic decline in US influence in the region.
Security tightenedSecurity tightened
Unnamed Iraqi sources said that the insurgents were from a previously unknown militant group calling themselves the Army of Heaven, or Soldiers of Heaven.Unnamed Iraqi sources said that the insurgents were from a previously unknown militant group calling themselves the Army of Heaven, or Soldiers of Heaven.
Asaad Abu Gilel, the governor of Najaf province, said that the gunmen had been intent on attacking Shia clerics and pilgrims marking the holy festival of Ashura. Mr Gilel said that the gunmen had been intent on attacking Shia clerics and pilgrims marking the holy festival of Ashura.
"They are well-equipped and they even have anti-aircraft missiles. They are backed by some locals," he said.
Thousands of pilgrims from across Iraq and beyond have descended on Karbala to take part in ceremonies marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in 680.Thousands of pilgrims from across Iraq and beyond have descended on Karbala to take part in ceremonies marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in 680.
In the past the festival has been hit by co-ordinated attacks, so some 10,000 Iraqi police and security forces were on duty in the city, 80km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, as part of a tightening of security.In the past the festival has been hit by co-ordinated attacks, so some 10,000 Iraqi police and security forces were on duty in the city, 80km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, as part of a tightening of security.
There was no let up from the bloodshed on Sunday, as seven Iraqi children died when their schools were targeted - five in Baghdad, where a mortar hit a high school, and two in a bomb attack at a primary school in RamadiThere was no let up from the bloodshed on Sunday, as seven Iraqi children died when their schools were targeted - five in Baghdad, where a mortar hit a high school, and two in a bomb attack at a primary school in Ramadi
Pupils at the secondary school in the mainly Sunni Adil district in west Baghdad were taking a break from lessons when two mortars landed in the yard.Pupils at the secondary school in the mainly Sunni Adil district in west Baghdad were taking a break from lessons when two mortars landed in the yard.
Five girls were killed and 20 other pupils injured as the blast blew out classroom windows, spraying the children with debris and shards of glass.Five girls were killed and 20 other pupils injured as the blast blew out classroom windows, spraying the children with debris and shards of glass.
It was not clear who fired the mortars but the school is in a district which has been the scene of frequent reprisal attacks by Sunni and Shia extremists.It was not clear who fired the mortars but the school is in a district which has been the scene of frequent reprisal attacks by Sunni and Shia extremists.
A primary school in Ramadi, north-west of Baghdad, was caught up in the violence when a suicide truck bomber attacked a nearby Iraqi security base.A primary school in Ramadi, north-west of Baghdad, was caught up in the violence when a suicide truck bomber attacked a nearby Iraqi security base.
The wave of attacks comes as Iraqi and US forces are gearing up for a security crackdown in a bid to halt the sectarian violence that is claiming hundreds of lives in Iraq every week.The wave of attacks comes as Iraqi and US forces are gearing up for a security crackdown in a bid to halt the sectarian violence that is claiming hundreds of lives in Iraq every week.