Shiites dig in as journalists killed

Gunmen killed two journalists south of Baghdad today, and militiamen loyal to a radical Shiite cleric dug in for a confrontation with US troops, clashing with soldiers in two holy cities.

The journalists, a Pole and an Algerian, were shot in their car by gunmen in a passing vehicle near Mahmoudiyah, about 30 20 miles south of Baghdad, said police Lieut Alaa Hussein. A second Pole was wounded in the attack.