At Least 12 Killed In Clashes Between British Troops, Militia

AMARA, Iraq, Aug 24 (AFP) - At least 12 Iraqis were killed, including three children, and 54 wounded in clashes Tuesday between Shiite Muslim militiamen and British troops in the southern city of Amara, hospital sources said.
Twelve dead were brought to the Al-Amara hospital and 54 patients admitted with injuries, said the centre's director.
Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army fighters clashed with British troops for about two hours after they opened fire on a British base at around 4:00 pm (1200 GMT).
Doctor Mustafa Ali said three mortar rounds landed on the Al-Jadida residential district. It was not immediately clear which side fired the deadly rounds.
The military said British bases in Amara had come under sporadic small arms and mortar attacks, but had no information about any "sustained activity".
A spokesman said there had only been "low-level interference for roughly the last 24 hours. There's been no large incident that we are aware of".