U.S. soldier killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier was killed in clashes with the Mehdi Army in Diwaniya on Tuesday when violence flared in the southern Iraqi city which was the scene of a major U.S. operation in April.

Two patrols were separately ambushed with roadside bombs and rocket propelled grenades, and helicopters were called in to provide support, the U.S. military said in a statement.

A witness said the fighting left four houses in flames and that three residents, including two women, were killed. A local hospital source said eight people were wounded.

The U.S. military said Mehdi militiamen, loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, ambushed the patrols from the cover of civilian buildings, including a school.

This forced U.S. troops to return fire into residential neighbourhoods, the military said. It had no information on civilian or militia casualties.

Diwaniya, 180 km (112 miles) south of Baghdad, saw heavy clashes in mid April during Operation Black Eagle, when U.S. and Iraqi forces fought to wrest the city back from the militia.