US troops push into Iraq rebel stronghold

Hundreds of US soldiers entered the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City today in the first major push into the area since an American-led security sweep began last month around Baghdad.

Soldiers conducted house-to-house searches, but met no resistance in a district firmly in the hands of the Madhi Army militia led by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said Lt Col David Oclander.

The move into Sadr City came following negotiations with political leaders in the district.

Al-Sadr had withdrawn his militia under intense pressure from the government, but there were worries that a large-scale military push without political clearance could bring a backlash and jeopardise the entire security effort.