US forces kill 18 Iraqis in Baghdad, medics say

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 18 Iraqis were killed on
Sunday after U.S. troops clashed with a Shi’ite militia, medics
and police said.

Police said the clashes erupted after the Mehdi Army
militia loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr tried to stop U.S.
troops from entering a mosque.

A medic said 18 bodies were found around the mosque.

A senior aide to Sadr accused U.S. troops of killing more
than 20 unarmed worshippers during evening prayers at a Sadr
mosque in east Baghdad.

U.S. spokesmen had no immediate comment.

Police and residents said there were clashes involving
Sadr’s Mehdi Army militia fighters after U.S. troops raided the
mosque in east Baghdad. Police said the troops appeared to be
trying to arrest someone.

Sadr aide Hazim al-Araji told Reuters the dead were not
militiamen and had been unarmed: “The American forces went into
Mustafa mosque at prayers and killed more than 20 worshippers
… They tied them up and shot them.”