Twelve Iraqi militants killed in upsurge in fighting

A US military spokesman says 12 “criminal fighters” have been killed in an “uptick” in clashes in Baghdad’s main Shiite district of Sadr City.

The announcement comes after anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr warned he will declare war if a US-Iraqi crackdown against his followers is not stopped.

Lt Col Steve Stover said the deadliest strike was when seven militants attacked a US checkpoint just before 8am today in Sadr City.

He said US troops killed the heavily armed men, then killed two other snipers firing at them from a rooftop.

Lt Col Stover says three other militants have been killed while trying to plant roadside bombs earlier in Sadr City.

The spokesman says “there was an uptick in violence in comparison with the past couple of weeks”.