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| One coalition soldier killed in overnight clashes in Karbala |
| | www.chinaview.cn 2004-05-05 16:54:29 |
BAGHDAD, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- A coalition soldier was killed in overnight in clashes with militiamen of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr in the holy city of Karbala, the coalition forces said Wednesday.
"There was one coalition forces soldier killed," a statement said.
According to the statement, the soldier was killed in a battle when the coalition forces took over several buildings occupied by Sadr's Mehdi Army in the city of Karbala, some 110 km south of Baghdad.
The statement did not identified the nationality of the killed soldier.
Fighting erupted in Kerbala shortly after midnight when Mehdi Army militiamen fired mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns at coalition positions in the town.
The soldiers returned fire and the exchanges lasted until dawn. Witnesses said three gunmen were killed and nine wounded, including three in serious condition.
US forces have vowed to capture or kill Sadr whose militia now controls Najaf, nearby Kufa and Kerbala and maintains a presence in many other cities, including Baghdad.
Sadr is wanted for suspected murder of another Shiite cleric. He has denied the charge. Enditem
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