Riots spark fears Iraq is plunging into chaos

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By Nicholas Pelham in Baghdad
Published: April 5 2004 8:00 | Last Updated: April 5 2004 19:50

The year-long political accomodation between the US-led coalition and Iraq's majority Shia community was crumbling on Monday as violence tore through Shia districts for a second day and US forces said they would arrest cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Eight US soldiers and up to 50 Iraqis have been killed in the f ighting, which erupted on Sunday. On Monday, Apache attack helicopters strafed targets in Baghdad's Shia suburb of Sadr City, and US tanks moved into the area's central square, provoking a stand-off with supporters of Mr Sadr, a radical Shia.

Riots spark fears Iraq is plunging into chaos