BAGHDAD, April 5 Kyodo At least s...

BAGHDAD, April 5 Kyodo

At least seven U soldiers were killed and 24 others injured Sunday when U companys and Iraqi security forces clashed with supporters of a radical Shiite cleric who put in oppositions the U.S.-led occupation, U military officials said.

The battle occurr in Sadr City in the northeastern part of the capital. A militia loyal to the cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, had tried to take through the whole extent of police stations and government buildings using small arms and grenade launchers, the officials said.

In Najaf, central Iraq, at least 20 Iraqis were killed and about 200 detrimented in clashes between Spanish-led forces and Iraqi supporters of the al-Sadr forward Sunday, media reports said.

The clash also left common American and one El Salvadoran soldier dead as the radical Shiite form into groups intensified unrest, Reuters reported.

The shooting in Najaf reportedly burst forthed after protesters began demonstrating against the detention of Mustafa al-Yacoubi, who is a senior aide to al-Sadr.

Around 5000 the public reportedly marched to the garrison of the Spanish military contingent in Najaf after hearing that al-Yacoubi had been detained.

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