US, Iraqi forces battle Shi'ite militia in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Aug 7 (Reuters) US and Iraqi forces raided a suspected death squad in mostly Shi'ite east Baghdad early today, the US military said, and a police source said they fought with militia there for several hours.

The police source said that 18 people had been wounded and two killed in the fighting in Sadr City, a stronghold of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose supporters are part of the ruling Shi'ite coalition.

A US military statement said that Iraqi forces backed by coalition advisers conducted a raid to detain ''individuals involved in punishment and torture cell activities,'' and had come immediately under fire.

One US soldier was hurt in the clash.

US troops began reinforcing the city yesterday in a bid to stem worsening sectarian violence and help restore confidence in the country's new Shi'ite-led government.

It has vowed to confront the armed militias blamed for fanning sectarian tension, but must tread carefully since some of these have close ties to members of the new government.

REUTERS KR DS1225