Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 6, 2008

Death Toll Climbs in Clashes in Baghdad's Sadr City
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1BCA208:A6F02AD83191E160762409C61A5A2D5530EB2FA2E66CBB22& Police say
fighting broke out early Sunday in neighborhood where Shi'ite cleric
al-Sadr has many armed loyalists Iraqi authorities say at least 20
people have been killed and more than 50 wounded in clashes between
U.S. forces and gunmen in Baghdad's Sadr City.

The fighting broke out early Sunday in a neighborhood where extremist
Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has many armed loyalists.

Authorities have not said who died, but they say women and children
are among the wounded.

Earlier, the U.S. military said a helicopter air strike killed nine
people in Sadr City. The military called the victims "criminals."

It is unclear whether those victims are among the 20 people reported
killed by Iraqi authorities.

The latest fighting erupted a day after Iraq's Political Council for
National Unity called for militias to disband and hand over their
weapons to the government.

The council is made up of Iraq's president, prime minister and the
heads of political blocs in parliament.

A week ago, al-Sadr called his militia off the streets following
deadly clashes with Iraqi and foreign forces. The fighting in Baghdad
and the southern city of Basra killed hundreds of people.

Elsewhere in Iraq, officials say security forces have freed 42
university students who were kidnapped by gunmen near the northern
city of Mosul Sunday.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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