26 Iraqis killed, 90 wounded in clashes in Baghdad Shiite district

BAGHDAD (AFP) — At least 26 people were killed and 90 wounded during fighting pitting US troops and Iraqi security forces against Shiite Muslim militiamen in their Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City, medics said.

The Sadr General Hospital said 18 bodies had been brought in and 73 wounded, including two women and four children.

In the Al-Shuader hospital, eight people were reported killed and 17 wounded. Two other hospitals reported 10 wounded between them.

In all, nearly 50 people were killed and more than 130 wounded as fighting raged across Shiite central and southern Iraq, with clashes with British troops in Basra, Italian troops in Nasiriyah and US troops in Najaf.

Iraq's caretaker government on Friday vowed to crush illegal militias operating in the country.

"We believe 100 percent that there should be no militias belonging to anyone anywhere in Iraq," government spokesman Gurgis Sada told AFP.

The government ...