US and Iraqi soldiers, backed by American warplanes, killed 50 suspected insurgents in an battle today in central Baghdad, the Iraqi defense ministry said.

Iraqi soldiers backed by US troops battled gunmen in central Baghdad early today, and explosions were heard in the area, police, witnesses and the US military said.

Iraqi soldiers backed by US troops battled with gunmen in central Baghdad this morning and explosions were heard in the area, police and witnesses said.

Bombings and shootings killed at least 14 people across Iraq today as Iraqi troops waged a fresh battle to oust militias and pacify the capital.

Iraq’s prime minister distanced himself from a raid by US and Iraqi forces today on Sadr City – the stronghold of the Shiite militia led by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al Sadr.

Gunmen kidnapped the head of Iraq’s Olympic committee and at least 30 employees today after storming a meeting of sports officials just days after the coach of Iraq’s national wrestling team was killed.

The Iraqi government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew today after insurgent gunmen set up roadblocks in central Baghdad and opened fire on US and Iraqi troops just north of the heavily fortified Green Zone.

IRAQI forces have launched a new security operation against insurgents in the Baghdad area.

US troops have staged a series of raids in northern and central Iraq, arresting dozens, as insurgents stepped up their attacks two weeks ahead of national elections, ambushing a car carrying a female candidate and killing 24 people in other assaults.

Car bombs tore through a Najaf funeral procession and Karbala’s main bus station, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 120 in the two Shiite holy cities.

A BRAZEN attack in the heart of Baghdad with rebels executing election workers in cold blood was a chilling reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the capital ahead of parliamentary elections on January 30.

CAR bombs rocked Iraq’s two holiest Shi’ite cities yesterday, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 120.

Car bombs rocked Iraq’s two holiest Shiite cities today, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 120, while in Baghdad dozens of gunmen carried out a brazen ambush on car, killing three employees of the organisation running next month’s elections.

About 30 gunmen ambushed a car today in central Baghdad carrying employees of the Iraqi organisation running next month’s elections, killing three of the workers while two escaped unhurt, an official from the election body said.

US troops fought a running gunbattle today with insurgents along Baghdad’s busy Haifa Street, sending passers-by scurrying for cover and forcing stores to close down, witnesses said.

The Iraqi government declared a 60-day state of emergency throughout most of the country yesterday, as US and Iraqi forces prepared for an expected all-out assault on rebels in Fallujah.

The Japanese government confirmed today that a decapitated body found in Iraq is that of a Japanese man taken hostage by Islamic militants earlier this week.

Iraqi security forces captured a suspected terrorist operating on Baghdad’s blood-soaked Haifa Street – cornering him today in a cupboard as he was disguising himself with his wife’s underwear.

US and Iraqi forces clashed with insurgents on a main Baghdad thoroughfare today, the Interior Ministry said.

Two loud explosions shook the Iraqi capital of Baghdad today.

AT least five people were killed when a suicide car bomb struck central Baghdad as 44 people died in US air strikes near the insurgent bastion of Fallujah.

A suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives near a row of parked police cars in central Baghdad today and reports said 13 people were killed.

At least five people were killed and 20 injured when a suicide bomber blew up his car as a police convoy drove by in central Baghdad today.

Clashes erupted today between US troops and insurgents in central Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official said.

IRAQI police suffered two mortal blows yesterday in attacks that left at least 59 people dead and more than 120 injured.

Iraqi police suffered two mortal blows today in attacks that left at least 59 people dead and more than 120 injured.

Iraqi police suffered two mortal blows today when a car bomb blew up recruits in the centre of Baghdad, killing at least 47, injuring 114, and an ambush north of the capital left 11 officers and their driver dead.

A suicide bomber attacked recruits waiting to join the Baghdad police force today, killing at least 39 people and wounding 96.

A car bomb exploded near a police station in the Iraqi capital early today, the US military said.

A loud explosion echoed across the Iraqi capital early today.

MILITANTS pounded central Baghdad yesterday with one of their most intense mortar barrages ever, targeting the Green Zone.

Militants pounded central Baghdad today with one of their most intense mortar barrages ever, targeting the Green Zone and destroying a US vehicle along a major street.

Militants pounded central Baghdad today with one of their most intense mortar barrages ever, targeting the Green Zone and destroying a US vehicle along a major street.

Strong explosions shook central Baghdad early today, and fighting erupted on a major street in the heart of the city near the US-guarded Green Zone.

Militants filed out of the revered Imam Ali Shrine and turned its keys over to representatives of Iraq’s top Shiite cleric today in the wake of a peace agreement to end three weeks of fighting with US and Iraqi forces in this holy city.

THE Iraqi government issued a long-anticipated package of security laws yesterday to help crush insurgents, including a provision allowing interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to impose martial law.

Six US soldiers were injured today when their truck hit a mine west of Baghdad, and two others were hurt in separate ambushes in the capital.