Beijing, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- In Iraq, interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, has visited Baghdad's violence-ridden Sadr City. Earlier, three people were killed and at least nine wounded in a mortar attack on the neighborhood. Meanwhile, over in Fallujah, seven Iraqis died and ten more injured in fierce clashes between US-Iraqi forces and local insurgents.

    A mortar round hit an arms collection site in Baghdad's Sadr City on Sunday, killing two Iraqi National Guards and a civilian. This was shortly before a visit by interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the first Iraqi leader ever to visit the neighborhood, reported CCTV.com Monday.

    Hospital staff said nine civilians were also wounded in the attack. After a two-hour delay, Allawi met supporters of anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and tribal leaders.

    Iyad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, said, "I've just met with Sadr's people. I'm very thrilled and pleased that things are moving in the right direction and arms are being surrendered to the Iraqi government. I call on Iraqi people throughout Iraq to surrender their weapons and to respect the rule of law and be part of the political process."

    The week-long disarmament scheme was due to end on Sunday. But National Security Adviser Kassim Daoud said it will now be extended for another two days.

    A US Army officer said earlier that Shi'ite militiamen had surrendered few serviceable weapons under the plan, meant to halt weeks of fighting with American forces in Sadr City.

    In contrast, senior Iraqi security official, Aqil al-Saffar, said a large quantity of light, medium and heavy weapons had been collected. The government has promised to spend 500 million US dollars on rebuilding Sadr City, home to more than two million Shi'ite Muslims.

    In Fallujah, fighting between anti-occupation insurgents and US troops continued on Sunday afternoon. US tanks and artillery pounded positions in the al-Askari neighborhood, on the northeastern edge of the besieged city. Iraq's interim government has warned it will launch a major offensive in Fallujah if the city does not hand over Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

    In other developments, a large funeral was held in the holy city of Kerbala for nine policemen killed in an ambush. Gunmen fired at their minibus as the recruits were driving home from a training course in Jordan. None survived the attack. The attack happened late on Saturday as the men were passing between the volatile towns of Latifiya and Yusufiya, about 35 kilometers southwest of Baghdad.

    (cctv.com)