As many as 20 Iraqis killed in clashes between Sadr’s militia and U.S.

BAGHDAD – Fighting between Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia and U.S.-led forces paralyzed Baghdad’s Sadr City today and left up to 20 Iraqis dead as the Iraqi government issued a call for the radical preacher to dissolve his militia.

The skirmishes erupted in the early morning and lasted until late afternoon. Witnesses in the area said U.S. and Iraqi forces traded fire with the militia on the parameters of the Shiite slum, home to 2.5 million people and a bastion of support for the cleric.

Medical sources from Sadr City hospitals, which are under the de facto control of the militia, put the dead at 20 civilians and 96 others wounded. The U.S. military said it fired two missiles at 8 a.m. that killed nine militants from the Mahdi Army who had been shooting rocket-propelled grenades at Iraqi soldiers.

The differences in the accounts could not immediately be resolved.

The clashes were the most serious between the sides since Sadr called on his followers to cease fire March 30 after nearly a week of combat in the southern port of Basra, other parts of southern Iraq and Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, senior officials and the leaders of the main Iraqi political blocs issued a statement late Saturday through the government’s Political Council for National Security calling on all parties to disarm their militias ahead of provincial elections scheduled for October. Sadr’s movement, which officials said was the main target of the declaration, rejected the demand.

“Everyone understands this means mainly the Mahdi Army,” said parliament member Sami Askari, who is close to Maliki.

ned.parker@latimes.com

Times staff writer Caesar Ahmed contributed to this report