Iraq: US air strike kills more than 60 outside Baghdad

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http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2012564840

Baghdad, 27 March (AKI) - A US air strike backing the offensive against the militias of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has killed more than 60 and injured many others in Hilla, south of Baghdad.

An official told Voices of Iraq news agency that more than 60 gunmen were killed in the attack on Wednesday evening when US choppers fired rockets at buildings believed to be used by gunmen.

"US copters bombed sites used by gunmen in Hilla's neighborhoods of al-Askari, Ahmed Nader and Muhaizem, killing more than 60 militants and destroying some houses," the source told Voices of Iraq.

US forces said four militants were killed but Iraqi security sources told reporters that the figure confirmed the number of casualties was much higher.

Abdellatif Rayan, a media adviser for the multi-national force in Iraq, told VOI that the operation was carried out as Iraqi forces requested air support while clashing with gunmen in central Hilla.

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL26766126

Many killed by U.S. strike in Iraq's Hilla -sources

HILLA, Iraq, March 26 (Reuters) - Many people were killed or wounded by a U.S. air strike called to support Iraqi forces in the town of Hilla south of Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi security sources said.

U.S. forces confirmed the air strike and said they were not certain how many people had been killed but denied that there were large numbers of casualties.

One police source said at least 11 people were killed and 18 wounded in the strike, launched after Iraqi security forces called for support following street battles with Shi'ite militia members in the city's Thawra neighbourhood.

Another police source said 29 people were killed and 39 were wounded. He said six houses were destroyed in the strikes which lasted for an hour late on Wednesday evening.

Two other security sources said the combined total of dead and wounded was in the dozens, although they were unable to give precise casualty figures. All of the sources spoke under condition they not be named, as is usual practice in Iraq.