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'Hundreds' killed in Iraq battles 'Hundreds' killed in Iraq battles
(about 1 hour later)
Officials in Iraq say 300 militants were killed in clashes on Sunday with US-backed Iraqi troops ahead of a major festival for Shia Muslims. Officials in Iraq say at least 200 militants were killed on Sunday during clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops ahead of a major Shia Muslim festival.
Fighting near Najaf had largely ended by Monday morning, reports said, but bombings and mortar attacks elsewhere killed about 15 Shia Iraqis. The violence near Najaf was blamed on a previously unknown group, the Soldiers of Heaven. A government spokesman said its leader was among those killed.
Police and troops patrolled the area and frisked residents at gunpoint. Three Iraqis and two US troops also died. Fighting had largely ended by Monday morning, reports said.
A previously unknown group was blamed for Sunday's violence in which three Iraqi and two US troops also died. Police patrolled the area and frisked residents at gunpoint.
Sunday's fighting occurred in the Zarqa area, north of the holy city of Najaf.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says as yet there is no independent confirmation of the scale of casualties and there is still uncertainty about the group.
Weapons seized
Government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said the Soldiers of Heaven was a Shia fringe group and identified its slain leader an Iraqi man named Ali bin Ali bin Abi Taleb.
Earlier security sources said the insurgents involved in the fighting had included both Shia and Sunni Muslims, as well Afghans, Saudis and Sudanese fighters.
Provincial officials said the militants were well-equipped and had anti-aircraft missiles.
Najaf governor Asaad Abu Gilel said they had been intent on attacking Shia clerics and pilgrims marking the festival of Ashura.
The US military said its two personnel were killed when their helicopter was shot down, but it did not confirm any of the other casualty figures.The US military said its two personnel were killed when their helicopter was shot down, but it did not confirm any of the other casualty figures.
Najaf province spokesman Ahmed Deaibil says US and Iraqi forces now have the Zarqa area surrounded and had seized heavy machine guns, ammunition and other weapons.Najaf province spokesman Ahmed Deaibil says US and Iraqi forces now have the Zarqa area surrounded and had seized heavy machine guns, ammunition and other weapons.
There is confusion about the nature of the group, which officials are calling the Army of Heaven. It is not even known if the group is Shia or Sunni. 'Civil war'
Security officials have said Afghans, Saudis and Sudanese were involved in the fight.
Provincial officials said the militants were well-equipped and had anti-aircraft missiles.
Najaf governor Asaad Abu Gilel said they had been intent on attacking Shia clerics and pilgrims marking Ashura.
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 in Najaf and there is still uncertainty over the identity of the group of several hundred armed men.
Civil war
Other violence on Monday appeared linked to Ashura, which reaches its climax on Tuesday with processions in Najaf, Karbala and other Shia shrines.Other violence on Monday appeared linked to Ashura, which reaches its climax on Tuesday with processions in Najaf, Karbala and other Shia shrines.
  • A bomb exploded near a bus carrying Shia shrine goers in northern Baghdad, killing four people.
  • Mortar rounds hit a Shia neighbourhood in the mainly Sunni town of Jurf al-Sakhar south of Baghdad, killing 10 people, including three children and four women.
  • A bomb exploded near a bus carrying Shia shrine goers in northern Baghdad, killing four people.
  • Mortar rounds hit a Shia neighbourhood in the mainly Sunni town of Jurf al-Sakhar south of Baghdad, killing 10 people, including three children and four women.
Ashura is holiest day in the religious calendar for Shia Muslims, commemorating the 7th century death of Imam Hussein. Ashura is holiest day in the religious calendar for Shia Muslims, commemorating the 7th Century death of Imam Hussein.
In the past, Shias have been hit by co-ordinated attacks as they marked Ashura with huge public gatherings.In the past, Shias have been hit by co-ordinated attacks as they marked Ashura with huge public gatherings.
Separately, a Washington-based think-tank says Iraq is rapidly sliding deeper into civil war.Separately, 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.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.
The latest 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 latest 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.