BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (AFP) - US forces carried out air raids in several areas of the Iraqi Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City in northern Baghdad late Wednesday, residents said.
Blasts could be heard but the reports were not immediately confirmed by the US armed forces.
The raids, if confirmed, were carried out as the Iraqi government said it was trying to broker truces with rebels in both Sunni and Shiite areas but warned that the threat of further military attacks loomed unless its authority was restored.
Tough-talking interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi kept up the pressure saying fighters had to lay down their weapons unconditionally and abide by the rule of law, without any special deals.
US and Iraqi troops earlier launched a major offensive against Sunni rebel bastions immediately south of the capital just days after a massive assault against the insurgent-held city of Samarra that left almost 150 people dead.
Sadr City is the scene of near daily clashes between US forces and Shiite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Sadr.