At least 461 people were killed in week-long clashes between Shiite militants and security forces in Iraq, according to an AFP tally based on reports by security officials.
Fighting erupted on Tuesday when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered security forces to crack down on strongholds of Shiite militiamen, mostly those loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, in the southern port city of Basra.
Street battles later spread to other Shiite areas across Iraq, with the most fighting clashes in Basra and Baghdad.
Interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf said at least 215 people were killed in Basra and another 600 wounded since hostilities began. Iraqi health and security officials said the clashes have left 140 people dead in Baghdad, most in Sadr City, the bastion of Sadrs Mahdi Army militia. More than 500 people were wounded in the sprawling neighbourhood of some two million people.
Clashes were also reported in the central holy city of Karbala with at least 12 "criminals" killed, local police said. The southern city of Nasiriyah also saw fierce battles with local medics reporting at least 36 killed. Police in the central city of Kut said around 50 people had been killed there since Tuesday. Eight people were also killed in Babel province south of the capital, Iraqi and US officials said.
The clashes eased off late on Sunday after Sadr ordered his fighters to withdraw from the streets. |
