BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- US troops clashed on Sunday with militiamen from Mehdi Army led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the Sadr city, east of Baghdad, a source from the Interior Ministry told Xinhua.

   "The clash has lasted about one hour and a half so far, but no other details are available now," the source added.

   Earlier reports said that "US forces stormed the eastern part of Sadr City at about 2:00 a.m. Sunday (2200 GMT Saturday) to arrest Mehdi army leaders, prompting fierce clashes with Mehdi militiamen."

   The clashes left at least eight militiamen dead and the US troops withdrew without arresting any of Mehdi leaders, an Interior Ministry source said.

   A US military spokesman confirmed the incident, saying there was no casualty among the US soldiers.

   In 2004, two major clashes erupted between Sadr's Mehdi militia and US forces, backed by Iraqi government troops, in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad. Enditem