Rival Sunni militants in Baghdad power struggle

BAGHDAD, June 1 (Reuters) Residents of a Baghdad district cowered inside their homes today, too afraid to go into the streets where al Qaeda militants and rival Sunni Arab insurgents have fought fierce battles in the past two days.

It is the first time open warfare has erupted in the streets of Baghdad as a result of growing tensions between al Qaeda and other Sunni insurgent groups in western Anbar province, the main stronghold of Sunni insurgents.

The fighting comes despite a major crackdown by thousands of US and Iraqi troops in the capital aimed at quelling sectarian violence between Shi'ite Muslims and Sunni Arabs that has raised the spectre of civil war.

Militants from the al Qaeda-led Islamic State in Iraq and the Islamic Army of Iraq, which is mainly driven by ex-army officers and supporters of the Baath party of executed former president Saddam Hussein, are fighting for control of Amiriya.

The clashes in southwestern Baghdad erupted on Wednesday but died down overnight, residents said. One resident, a former army officer who asked not to be named, said there was a rumour both sides had called a ceasefire to swap prisoners.

Residents said they were too afraid to go outside despite the lull in violence as militants had been setting up fake checkpoints to kidnap people. One resident said he was abducted for several hours on Thursday.

''I'm inside my house holding my Kalashnikov rifle with a group of friends,'' said another, a 22-year-old resident who also asked not to be identified.

''We're terrified because both sides are storming into houses trying to find each other. We can see from the window that some of these groups are setting up checkpoints. There are a number of bodies in the street outside.'' Residents said both sides had brought in more fighters from neighbouring districts and possibly as far afield as Anbar.

VOLATILE Baghdad's Amiriya has long been notorious as one of the most dangerous districts in the capital, too volatile even for police to venture into.

Details of the fighting, which residents said began on Wednesday, are confused as journalists are also unable to enter the area. A cameraman for U.S. news organisation Associated Press was shot dead near his home in Amiriya on Thursday.

A former resident close to al Qaeda militants in the area said the trouble started five days ago when a group of al Qaeda militants went to the home of a local Islamic Army leader.

Finding he was not there, they planted explosives and destroyed his home. Angry Islamic Army members then went to a mosque and killed the local al Qaeda leader, he said.

His account could not be independently verified.

The Islamic Army and another insurgent group announced earlier this month they had formed the Jihad and Reform Front.

The front appears to have been established as a rival to the Islamic State in Iraq, which was set up last year by al Qaeda in Iraq and other minor Sunni Arab militant groups.

Some Sunni tribal leaders opposed to al Qaeda's ruthlessness and adherence to a hardline form of Sunni Islam have formed the Anbar Salvation Council, a move welcomed by the US military which six months ago had given up the province as lost.

The council has encouraged young men to join the police force to boost security in Anbar. Al Qaeda has replied with a campaign of bombings, intimidation and political assassinations.

REUTERS AM BD2113