Shiite militants fought US and Iraqi forces around Baghdad’s Shiite district of Sadr City early today despite a call for calm by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr following the assassination of one of his top aides.

An American airstrike aimed at Basra militants was feared to have killed at least three civilians.

The US military says an air strike has destroyed a house in the southern city of Basra, killing a militant, but it does not have reports of civilian deaths.

A bomb hit a bus carrying 20 police officers in southern Basra, injuring three, police said.