Iraqi police, Mehdi militia clash despite truce

By Jaafar al-Taie

KUT, Iraq (Reuters) - Members of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia clashed with Iraqi police in the southern city of Kut on Friday, a day after a close Sadr aide ordered militiamen to abide by a ceasefire, police said.

The militiamen clashed with Iraqi and U.S. soldiers earlier this week in Kut, 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Baghdad, sparking concerns a ceasefire may unravel and lead to an upsurge in violence.

Capt. Majed al-Amara said two policemen were killed and 10 people wounded.

"I'm not able to fight the gunmen with the few troops I have," said Lieutenant Aziz al-Amara, who commands a rapid reaction unit.

Police said mortars and small arms were used in the clashes, which took place in the Izzeh, Sharqia, and Hawia districts of the city. One police car was set ablaze.

The fighting on Friday started soon after the end of the funerals of men killed on Tuesday.

Sadr, whose militia fought two battles against U.S. forces in southern Iraq in 2004, extended a seven-month-old ceasefire last month, but at the weekend issued a statement telling followers they could defend themselves if attacked.

Gun battles in Kut killed a total of 11 people on Tuesday, according to the city's police chief, prompting U.S. special forces to call in air strikes after requests from Iraqi authorities for help.