BAGHDAD, May 19 (Xinhuanet) -- One Iraqi was killed and seven wounded Wednesday after heavy clashes between fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and US troops broke out overnight in the holy city of Karbala, local sources said.

    The fighting broke out when fighters of Mehdi Army clashed with US tanks which tried to approach the Imam Abbas shrine in the center of Karbala, the sources said.

    The fighting caused some damage in several houses and hotels in the city as medical sources in Al Hussien hospital said they have received a civilian killed in the clashes and seven more injured.

    Witnesses said US warplanes and helicopters were flying over thecity without taking part in the clashes.

    Karbala, 110 km south of Baghdad, was seized by al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia at the beginning of last month in an uprising across central southern Iraqi cities against the US-led occupation troops.

    US military officials have demanded al-Sadr surrender himself to Iraqi justice for the murder of a rival cleric last year and end his major rebellion against the US-led coalition forces. Enditem