Twelve killed in coalition-militia clashes in southern Iraq

[Barrett808]

KARBALA, Iraq : 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.

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.

(more)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/83330/1/.html

[displacedtexan]

1. Sad... people don't reply unless "US Soldier Deaths" in headline?

The Good Guy v Bad Guy meme seems to win out every time.

Any death in this illegal war should be condemned as an outrage, IMHO.

Thanks for posting this!