Rice in Iraq after Sadr's threat

By Sue Pleming

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed Iraq's crackdown on militias in a visit on Sunday to Baghdad, where the worst fighting in weeks killed 23 after Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr threatened all-out war.

Rockets blasted the fortified Green Zone compound where Rice met Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other officials and praised their month-old campaign against Sadr's followers.

She had harsh words for the reclusive cleric, who on the eve of Rice's visit vowed "open war" if the crackdown continues. Sadr has not appeared in public in Iraq in nearly a year.

"He is still living in Iran. I guess it's all out war for anybody but him," Rice told reporters. "His followers can go to their death and he will still be in Iran."

Sadr's reply came in a statement sent to reporters, condemning Rice's visit and saying the government should not admit such "occupier terrorists into our pure land".

The U.S. military described a night of gunbattles and helicopter missile strikes that killed 23 fighters in east Baghdad's Sadr City slum and other militia strongholds.

"I would say it's been the hottest night in a couple of weeks," spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Stover said.

Rice said she supported what she called a new political "centre" that has backed Maliki's anti-militia campaign.