28 killed in clashes with British troops
At least 28 Iraqis have died in fighting between British troops and gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, hospital officials said today.
On Friday, British troops killed up to 16 insurgents after a patrol was ambushed between the southern cities of Amarah and Basra. Two soldiers were wounded, the UK Ministry of Defence said.
Ambulance driver Mohammed Rahim said British authorities contacted Amarah General Hospital on Saturday night and asked officials to send ambulances to their base near Amarah to receive bodies of those Iraqis killed in the clashes.
Ambulances took away 21 bodies and British troops told hospital officials they would later hand over another seven bodies, Rahim said. Most of the victims were believed to be fighters.
Witnesses said the bodies of some of those killed in the fighting were also taken to al-Majar al-Kabir hospital, 25 miles south of Amarah.
Forces have battled al-Sadr fighters in several cities this week. The coalition is trying to disband the cleric’s army and sideline its radical leadership before handing power to a new Iraqi government June 30.
Al-Sadr is a fierce opponent of the US-led occupation who launched an uprising last month and faces an arrest warrant in relation to the death of a rival moderate cleric last year.
