US troops kill 300 militants in Najaf

Two days of fighting between a rebel cleric’s militia and US and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf has left about 300 of the militants dead, the US military said today.

Fighting in other Shiite areas of the country has killed dozens more, according to Iraqi authorities.

Coalition troops have been battling militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr since early Thursday in fighting that shattered a series of truces that had ended a widespread Shiite rebellion two months ago.

The fighting was heaviest in Najaf, where US warplanes and helicopters attacked suspected militant positions.

“We estimate we’ve killed 300 anti-Iraqi forces in the past two days of fighting,” said Captain Carrie Batson, a Marine spokeswoman.

A total of three US troops were killed and 12 wounded in the fighting in Najaf, she said.