Baghdad security crackdown begins

Thousands of US troops swept house-to-house through mostly Shiite areas near a militia stronghold in the opening phase of the long-awaited Baghdad security crackdown.

The clearing operation began yesterday as Iraqi forces set up new checkpoints across the city of 6 million people, snarling traffic and forcing Iraqis to stream across bridges on foot.

The neighbourhoods targeted by the Americans are north of the Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City, which had been off-limits until prime minister Nouri al-Maliki lifted his protection of them.

Some 2,500-3,000 troops – or an entire Stryker brigade – fanned out in the area, meeting with little resistance from the Iraqis who gathered on the street as they moved into houses.

The US military said 14 suspects were detained and four weapons caches found as American and Iraqi forces stepped up patrols, raids and searches as part of what it called 'Operation Law and Order'.

"Intelligence-focused searches accompanied by clearing operations were conducted by coalition and Iraqi security forces in multiple locations across Baghdad,” military spokesman Lt Col Scott Bleichwehl said.