Iraqi forces today detained a senior Health Ministry official accused of corruption and helping to funnel millions of pounds to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the US military said.

Heavy clashes broke out this afternoon between gunmen and guards of the Iraqi Health Ministry building in north Baghdad, security officials said.

THREE back-to-back explosions killed 20 people and wounded more than 70 last night in a mostly Shi’ite neighbourhood in southern Baghdad, police said.