Violence in Iraq claims 2 U.S. soldiers, 11 residents

BAGHDAD – At least seven Iraqi civilians were killed today when a rocket or mortar shell tore into a residential neighborhood of Baghdad’s Sadr City, the site of fierce fighting between Shiite militiamen and U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Four people died in additional clashes in Sadr City today, and the U.S. military announced the deaths of two soldiers, bringing to 4,028 the number of American troops killed in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003, according to www.icasualties.org “> www.icasualties.org (nhlirl452i43tn45j1vwpa22)/Default.aspx. Today marked the fifth anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime, but a curfew in the capital prevented gatherings to commemorate the event.

The curfew, the second lockdown of Baghdad’s 6 million people in two weeks, blocked a march called by Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr, which many had feared would lead to more violence. Sadr had called the march to protest the U.S. occupation and to denounce Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s government.

Tensions in Shiite areas such as Sadr City have soared since Maliki launched a military offensive in the southern city of Basra on March 25 that he said was aimed at crushing illegal militias. Sadr says the crackdown targeted his Mahdi Army militia, and his followers have risen up against Iraqi and U.S. troops. He had hoped to galvanize more than a million supporters for today’s planned march, which was canceled last night after Sadr complained that Iraqi officials were not permitting people to get to Baghdad to take part.

Officials at Sadr City’s hospitals have put the death toll at more than 60 in the neighborhood since Sunday, but it was not clear if their figures included militia fighters. An Iraqi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Qassim Moussawi, said Tuesday that 36 civilians had died since clashes erupted, and 82 “militants” had been killed. His figures were for all of Baghdad, the casualties were mainly reported in Sadr City.

Thousands of Sadr City residents have fled for the relative safety of other neighborhoods. Locals in Sadr City today described it as far quieter than in recent days. Prices in local markets were soaring as supplies dwindled, a result of suppliers’ inability to bring in goods. Iraqi and U.S. forces appeared to be penetrating deeper into the neighborhood, said one local journalist.

Today’s casualties included seven civilians killed when a mortar round or rocket hit a residential area, police said. In another part of Sadr City, projectiles hit a house and a tent erected for a funeral, killing four people. Police said it was unclear if the hits came from mortars or from U.S. helicopters, which have conducted airstrikes in the neighborhood.

tina.susman@latimes.

Times correspondents in Baghdad contributed to this report.