29 militiamen killed by US troops
Published: 10/08/2006 12:00 AM (UAE) - Diwaniya: US troops killed 29 suspected militiamen late on Saturday in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya. Fierce gun fighting continued into Sunday. The militants were killed when US forces responded to a rocket-propelled grenade attack as they entered the city to carry out combat operations. Police said the militants were loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. An official in Sadr's office said the US broke a previous agreement by entering the city and hinted they were not involved in clashes. "US forces broke the agreement we agreed ... that they do not enter the centre of the city and gunmen clashed with them. Moqtada Al Sadr has prevented us from fighting the Americans in Diwaniya," he said on condition of anonymity.
