This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6989169.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US 'kills nine Baghdad militants' US 'kills 23 militants in Iraq'
(about 4 hours later)
US forces have killed nine suspected Shia militants in a raid on the Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the US military has said. The US military in Iraq has said its forces have killed 23 militants in raids in Baghdad and northern Iraq.
A further eight were detained in the operation targeting people involved in murder, kidnapping, roadside bombings and mortar attacks, a statement said. Fourteen suspected members of al-Qaeda in Iraq were killed in two separate operations in southern Baghdad and an area close to Iraq's border with Syria.
But local residents said some of those killed in the raid had been civilians. Earlier, US troops killed nine suspected Shia militants in a raid on the Sadr City district of the capital.
Sadr City is home to the Mehdi Army militia, whose members follow the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr.Sadr City is home to the Mehdi Army militia, whose members follow the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr.
He suspended the group's activities for six months nearly two weeks ago, but US forces have launched several operations against what they call rogue elements of the group since.He suspended the group's activities for six months nearly two weeks ago, but US forces have launched several operations against what they call rogue elements of the group since.
Residents 'Civilian casualties'
"Coalition forces continue to respect Moqtada Sadr's declaration to stop attacks and the restraint shown by his faithful followers, who are honouring this directive," said Maj Winfield Danielson, a spokesman for the US military."Coalition forces continue to respect Moqtada Sadr's declaration to stop attacks and the restraint shown by his faithful followers, who are honouring this directive," said Maj Winfield Danielson, a spokesman for the US military.
"Those who do not honour Sadr's pledge and continue attacks are criminals, and we will take the actions necessary to stop them and protect the Iraqi people.""Those who do not honour Sadr's pledge and continue attacks are criminals, and we will take the actions necessary to stop them and protect the Iraqi people."
The US military said fire from its aircraft and troops had been "precise", but local residents said civilians had been killed in the early morning raid. The US military said those killed in the operation on Tuesday morning had been involved in murder, kidnapping, roadside bombings and mortar attacks.
Hussein Mohammed Mihsan told the Associated Press that one of those killed was a teenage boy who was shot dead when he opened his front door to see what was happening in the street. But local residents said some of the casualties had been civilians.
Hussein Mohammed Mihsan told the Associated Press news agency that one of those killed was a teenage boy who was shot dead when he opened his front door to see what was happening in the street.
Later, the US military said its forces had carried out two operations against al-Qaeda in Iraq in north-western Iraq and south of Baghdad.
Eight suspected militants were killed during a raid in a desolate area six miles from the Syrian border.
Six of the men were shot dead in a gunfight with US-led troops, while another two died when a suicide vest was detonated, a statement said.
Several other suicide vests, weapons, rockets and grenades were found at the site, it said.
Six suspected al-Qaeda fighters were also killed during an operation in the capital targeting the expected successor of an al-Qaeda leader, or emir, who was killed in the area last week.
The US military said the raid was part of an attempt to boost security in Baghdad.