US RAIDS KILLS 30 IRAQ 'MILITANTS' !
Many Sadr City residents blamed US forces for attacking civilians. US and Iraqi forces have killed 30 militants in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the US military has said.
They said most had died in an air strike following a raid in the Shia district of Sadr City. Twelve people were also detained in the operation.
The US military said the dead were part of a network that was smuggling weapons from Iran, but witnesses said women and children were among those killed.
The violence came as Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki held security talks in Iran.
The Iraqi ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Majeed al-Sheikh, said the Iranian government had a significant role to play in helping to bolster Iraq's security.
He said Iraq also needed Iranian help to control the long border between the two countries.
US officials have recently accused Iran of stepping up its support for Iraqi militias - allegations Iran has always denied.
Protests
Iraqi police in Sadr City said a bombardment by US helicopters and armoured vehicles killed nine civilians, including two women, the Associated Press has reported.
Reports say hundreds of angry residents of Sadr City marched through the area in protest at the raids.
They came on the eve of a major Shia religious festival in the capital which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
A three-day driving curfew has been imposed in Baghdad and new checkpoints established.
The US military statement said: "The individuals detained and the terrorists killed during the raid are believed to be members of a cell of a Special Groups terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons... from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq into Iran for terrorist training."
BBC NEWS REPORT.
They said most had died in an air strike following a raid in the Shia district of Sadr City. Twelve people were also detained in the operation.
The US military said the dead were part of a network that was smuggling weapons from Iran, but witnesses said women and children were among those killed.
The violence came as Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki held security talks in Iran.
The Iraqi ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Majeed al-Sheikh, said the Iranian government had a significant role to play in helping to bolster Iraq's security.
He said Iraq also needed Iranian help to control the long border between the two countries.
US officials have recently accused Iran of stepping up its support for Iraqi militias - allegations Iran has always denied.
Protests
Iraqi police in Sadr City said a bombardment by US helicopters and armoured vehicles killed nine civilians, including two women, the Associated Press has reported.
Reports say hundreds of angry residents of Sadr City marched through the area in protest at the raids.
They came on the eve of a major Shia religious festival in the capital which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
A three-day driving curfew has been imposed in Baghdad and new checkpoints established.
The US military statement said: "The individuals detained and the terrorists killed during the raid are believed to be members of a cell of a Special Groups terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons... from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq into Iran for terrorist training."
posted by jackaranda at 2:39 pm
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