US forces clashed with fighters loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad's Sadr City suburb today and killed 18, a US military spokesman said.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said US-led forces had responded to reports that militiamen loyal to Sadr had set up check points and attacked police stations in the district.
"Coalition forces have stabilised the situation at two Iraqi police stations in the district and have killed 18," Kimmit told a news conference.
Witnesses said Sadr militiamen had fired several mortar bombs at a government building and engaged in brief gunbattles with American soldiers in different parts of the neighbourhood.
Sadr, wanted by the authorities for the murder of another cleric, launched a revolt against US-led forces in Iraq one month ago.
Iraq's US-led authorities have vowed to kill or capture the cleric, who is holed up in the Shia holy city of Najaf, 160 km south of Baghdad.