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Dozens die in Iraq violence
28/08/2006 14:56 - (SA)
Baghdad - A surge in bloodshed on Monday left about 50 people dead in a suicide car bombing and clashes between Shi'ite militia and Iraqi security forces on Monday, in a brutal contradiction of the prime minister's claim that violence was decreasing.
The deaths followed a day of bombings and shootings on Sunday, when more than 60 people were killed across the country, from the northern city of Kirkuk to the capital Baghdad and down to the south in Basra.
In the city of Diwaniyah, gun battles between Iraqi forces and militiamen of the Mahdi Army loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr left at least 34 people dead and about 70 wounded, Iraqi officials said.
The fighting broke out late on Sunday night when Iraqi soldiers conducted raids in three neighbourhoods to flush out the militiamen and seize weapons, said army Capt. Fatik Aied.
He said the fighting continued on Monday.
Dr Mohammed Abdul-Muhsen of the city's general hospital said 34 bodies were brought in - 25 Iraqi soldiers, seven civilians and two militiamen. He said at least 70 people were injured, but could not immediately give a breakdown.
Aied said the militiamen were using rocket propelled grenades and automatic assault rifles. At least 10 militiamen had been arrested, he said.
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