KUT - At least five people were killed in fierce clashes between Iraqi police and Shiite militia forces in the central city of Kut on Tuesday, police said.
Iraqi forces raided three Kut neighbourhoods to nab wanted Shiite militiamen, a local police officer who did not give his name for security reasons told AFP.
The three neighbourhoods -- Al-Ezza, Al-Jihad and Anwar Sadr -- are known strongholds of Mahdi Army militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the officer said.
"The clashes are still going on. Five people have been killed including two brothers when their house was struck by a rocket," the officer said. Another eight people were wounded, including a woman and a policeman.
The clashes broke out as the security forces were attacked during the raid, he said, adding that US warplanes flew in to provide aerial support to the Iraqi forces.
The US military said it had no immediate information on the clashes.
Earlier on Tuesday, at least nine people, including four policemen, were killed in clashes in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul between insurgents and police, medical and police officials said.
str-ak/jds/ch/hc
03/11/2008 12:19 GMT