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Deadly raid on Baghdad district US raid kills Iraqi 'criminals'
(about 4 hours later)
At least 10 people have been killed in Baghdad's Sadr City - a Shia stronghold - police and hospital officials say. Forty-nine Iraqi "criminals" have been killed in three separate raids in Sadr City in the capital, Baghdad, the US military says.
They said women and children were among those killed, but a US spokesman said he had no evidence of civilian deaths. "The operation's objective was an individual reported to be a long-time Special Groups member specialising in kidnapping operations," it said.
The US military said its forces had conducted operations in Sadr City, "targeting criminals" suspected in the kidnapping of coalition soldiers. Iraqi sources said women and children were among those killed, but the US said it was not aware of this.
Iraqi officials said US helicopters and fighter jets had bombed buildings in the area during the raid. Sadr City is a stronghold of radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr.
"I don't yet have details on the number of terrorists killed, but I can say that we don't have any evidence of any civilians killed or wounded," spokesman Lt Justin Cole said in an e-mail statement to the Associated Press.
"Coalition forces only engage hostile threats and make every effort to protect innocent civilians."
Sadr City, in north-east Baghdad, is home to the Mehdi Army militia, whose members follow the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr.
The poor district has been the scene of much fighting between militants and US forces.The poor district has been the scene of much fighting between militants and US forces.
US military said its troops had returned fire after coming under sustained attack from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades from nearby buildings as they began to raid a series of buildings in the district.
Ground forces then called in air strikes, which are reported to have killed some six militants.
The statement by the US military said: "Coalition forces estimate that 49 criminals were killed in three separate engagements during this operation."
"Ground forces reported they were unaware of any innocent civilians being killed as a result of this operation," the statement continued.