200 militants killed during day-long battle near Najaf

Iraqi officials claimed today that at least 200 militants were killed in a fierce battle between US-backed Iraqi troops and a religious cult allegedly plotting to kill pilgrims at a major Shia Muslim religious festival, while bombings and mortar attacks targeting Shias elsewhere killed at least 15 people.

Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said the Iraqi troops killed 200 terrorists, wounded 60 and captured 120 in the operation, lowering previous counts based on what he said were the most recent figures he had received.

Ahmed Deaibil, a spokesman for Najaf province, and Brig. Gen. Fadhil Barwari earlier had put the figure at 300 militants killed and as many as 20 captured, including fighters from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Lebanon.