Karbala, May 21: Ten civilians, including an Iraqi working for al-Jazeera television, were killed in overnight fighting between US troops and Shiite militiamen in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, hospital sources said today. Another 16 people were wounded in the violence which erupted in the two cities between coalition troops and the private militia of militant Shiite Muslim Cleric Moqtada Sadr, medics added.
Nine bodies were taken to the morgue at Karbala city hospital, doctor Ali Aradawi, head of the casualty department, told a news agency. Another 10 people were brought in with injuries.
In Najaf, Kifah Shamal, director of the Hakim hospital said one civilian was killed and six others wounded in a short burst of heavy fighting near the city's cemetery.
Coalition troops have been locked in furious clashes with Sadr's militiamen since the popular leader launched an uprising across central and southern Iraq last month.
Bureau Report