KARBALA: Twelve people were killed in clashes between coalition forces and rebel Shiite militia overnight in the southern cities of Diwaniyah and Karbala, coalition and Iraqi sources said Wednesday. Nine militiamen were killed in clashes in Diwaniya, Ali Kharsan, spokesman for rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr, said from the Shiite shrine city of Najaf. Late Tuesday, Kharsan told AFP "violent clashes are currently taking place in the middle of the city," 180 kilometres (100 miles) from Baghdad. A US military spokesman confirmed fighting took place but had no further details. Violence also ripped the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, where Polish troops conducted night patrols and traded fire with Sadr's followers. At least three people were killed, including a coalition soldier. The soldier, whose nationality was not immediately given, was killed in a battle in which coalition forces took over several buildings occupied by the Mehdi Army, a coalition statement said.
Sounds like Sadr's Mehdi Army is being squeezed into a smaller and smaller pocket. Excellent, my compliments to the Poles.
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The heaviest fighting came in the city of Karbala, south of the capital, where coalition forces raided a hotel, the local former Baath Party headquarters and the regional governor's office, where fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stockpiled weapons, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. In the raid overnight on the governor's office, 10 al-Sadr followers were killed in an ensuing battle, Kimmitt said in Baghdad. The Polish command in Iraq said a soldier was killed, without specifying his nationality. Polish, Bulgarian, U.S. and other peacekeepers are active in the area.
Outside the cities of Kufa and Najaf, U.S. forces attacked a van where Iraqis were seen unloading weapons. The vehicle was destroyed and five Iraqis killed, Kimmitt said. In Najaf, militiamen of al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army ambushed three U.S. Humvees. Soldiers opened fire on the attackers, who withdrew. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Coalition troops also raided and occupied al-Sadr's office in the city of Diwaniyah in order to "reduce militia influence in the city," Kimmitt said. The troops were fired on from a vehicle, which was destroyed.
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