Citizen (Zambia) : 10 killed in clashes with US in Baghdad Shiite bastion

10 killed in clashes with US in Baghdad Shiite bastion

BAGHDAD (AFP) | October 22, 2007

US soldiers fire a mortar during a clearing operation outside Baquba, 09 October 2007. Fierce fighting between American air and ground troops and militants in Baghdad's Sadr City killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 40.

Fierce fighting between American air and ground troops and militants in Baghdad's Sadr City killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 40 early on Sunday, medics and security officials said.

The US military said the firefight broke out when ground forces came under attack during an operation aimed at capturing an individual from a group involved in kidnappings.

It said "six criminals" were killed in the firefight.

The clashes erupted as American forces launched a raid in the impoverished neighbourhood which is loyal to anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, security officials said.

Medics at Sadr City's Imam Ali Hospital and Sadr Hospital confirmed the casualties and said the dead included a child and a girl, without elaborating.

US military spokesman Major Winfield S. Danielson told AFP there were no civilian casualties.

"I can say that we don't have any evidence of any civilians killed or wounded. Coalition forces only engage hostile threats and make very effort to protect innocent civilians."

In a separate statement the US military said the operation was "intelligence-driven," and had targeted an individual from a special group involved in kidnappings.

During the operation "coalition forces were engaged in a firefight that resulted in the killing of an estimated six criminals", it said.

The targeted individual is a "well-known cell leader and has previously sought funding from Iran to carry out high profile kidnappings," it added.

The military said its troops were attacked by machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in Sadr City during the operation.

"Supporting aircraft was called in to suppress the enemy fire, killing an estimated six criminals," it said.

"Upon departing the target area, Coalition forces were attacked with an improvised explosive device. Initial reports indicate that no civilians or Coalition forces were killed or injured in the operation."

A US Apache gunship helicopter fires during an operation outside Baquba, 08 october 2007. Fierce fighting between American air and ground troops and militants in Baghdad's Sadr City killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 40.

The US military has regularly targeted Sadr's Mahdi Army militia which it accuses of being involved in sectarian killings of Iraqi Sunni Arabs.

In August Sadr declared a six-month freeze on the activities of the militia, including a halt to attacks on US-led coalition troops in Iraq.

The American military has welcomed the freeze but continues to target fighters who it says have broken away from the main force of the Mahdi Army and formed special groups allegedly aided by Iranian groups.

"We continue to support the Government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment by Moqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks and we will continue to show restraint in dealing with those who honour his pledge," the military statement said.

"We will not show the same restraint against those criminals who dishonour this pledge by attacking security forces and Iraqi citizens," said military spokesman Major Winfield Danielson.

© 2007 AFP