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| US-led raids 'kill 26' in Baghdad | US-led raids 'kill 26' in Baghdad |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US-led forces say they have killed 26 militants in overnight operations in the Sadr City area of Baghdad in which four vehicles were destroyed. | US-led forces say they have killed 26 militants in overnight operations in the Sadr City area of Baghdad in which four vehicles were destroyed. |
| Troops also detained 17 militants in pre-dawn raids on the area, a Shia stronghold, the US military said. | Troops also detained 17 militants in pre-dawn raids on the area, a Shia stronghold, the US military said. |
| But Iraqi hospital and police officials put the death toll at eight and said civilians were killed in their homes. | But Iraqi hospital and police officials put the death toll at eight and said civilians were killed in their homes. |
| The raids are the latest in a series of US offensives against militants accused of smuggling weapons from Iran. | The raids are the latest in a series of US offensives against militants accused of smuggling weapons from Iran. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki criticised the raids on Sadr City, saying his government strongly opposed operations carried out by US-led forces without its permission. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki criticised the raids on Sadr City, saying his government strongly opposed operations carried out by US-led forces without its permission. |
| In another development, the US military denied reports from Thursday that 20 headless bodies had been found south of Baghdad and suggested it had been misinformation spread by insurgents. | In another development, the US military denied reports from Thursday that 20 headless bodies had been found south of Baghdad and suggested it had been misinformation spread by insurgents. |
| 'No resistance' | 'No resistance' |
| A US statement said troops had met "significant" resistance during the raids from militant small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as from roadside explosive devices. | A US statement said troops had met "significant" resistance during the raids from militant small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as from roadside explosive devices. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6257146.stm">In pictures: Sadr City raids | |
| Troops travelling in armoured vehicles had "used proper escalation of force rules to engage four civilian vehicles", the statement said, adding: "It is believed that the suspected terrorists have close ties to Iranian terror networks." | |
| US military spokesman Lt Col Christopher Garver insisted all of those killed had been "shooting at US troops at the time". | US military spokesman Lt Col Christopher Garver insisted all of those killed had been "shooting at US troops at the time". |
| "It was an intense firefight," he said. | "It was an intense firefight," he said. |
| One resident told reporters that US helicopters had launched missiles at targets in the densely populated district, home to more than two million people. | One resident told reporters that US helicopters had launched missiles at targets in the densely populated district, home to more than two million people. |
| Another described how "a big American convoy with tanks came and began to open fire on houses - bombarding them". | Another described how "a big American convoy with tanks came and began to open fire on houses - bombarding them". |
| "What did we do? We didn't even retaliate - there was no resistance," Basheer Ahmed added. | "What did we do? We didn't even retaliate - there was no resistance," Basheer Ahmed added. |
| 'No permission' | 'No permission' |
| The government is demanding an explanation for the raids which also involved Iraqi special forces under their command. | The government is demanding an explanation for the raids which also involved Iraqi special forces under their command. |
| US soldiers have carried out a series of raids north of Baghdad | |
| It said any Iraqi forces had to get permission from the government before participating. | It said any Iraqi forces had to get permission from the government before participating. |
| This will bring back memories of problems between the two sides last year, the BBC's Andrew North reports from Baghdad. | This will bring back memories of problems between the two sides last year, the BBC's Andrew North reports from Baghdad. |
| Mr Maliki had intervened to stop several US operations during a drive to restore security to Baghdad. | Mr Maliki had intervened to stop several US operations during a drive to restore security to Baghdad. |
| American commanders say interference from the Shia-led government was one reason the plan failed and it was over Sadr City that they most strongly disagreed. | American commanders say interference from the Shia-led government was one reason the plan failed and it was over Sadr City that they most strongly disagreed. |
| But Sunnis, our correspondent adds, are likely to see this new move by the government as further evidence of what they say is its bias towards the Shia community. | But Sunnis, our correspondent adds, are likely to see this new move by the government as further evidence of what they say is its bias towards the Shia community. |
| US-led troops have also attacked what they call insurgent strongholds linked to al-Qaeda around the capital in the last few weeks. | US-led troops have also attacked what they call insurgent strongholds linked to al-Qaeda around the capital in the last few weeks. |
| US commanders believe these so-called "belt areas" are where many of the car bombs set off in the capital are made. | US commanders believe these so-called "belt areas" are where many of the car bombs set off in the capital are made. |