Three Iraqis die in Baghdad battles

Shiite insurgents fired mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades at a police station housing US troops in gun battles early today that killed three Iraqis in Baghdad in a stronghold of rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Helicopters and jet fighters flew over the station during the exchanges that the insurgents say came after US troops tried to raid homes and arrest militiamen.