Troops battle insurgents in central Baghdad

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

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said American and Iraqi troops were carrying out raids on suspected militant holdouts on the street, a main Baghdad thoroughfare that has recently been the scene of heavy clashes, and were coming under fire.

Gunfire could be heard coming from the area of the clashes.

The US military had no immediate comment. There was no word on casualties.

Another Interior Ministry official said that US and Iraqi forces had launched a joint operation on Haifa Street, but declined to provide further details.

A car bomb exploded near a police station on Haifa street on Tuesday, killing at least 47 people.