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Shiite Cleric's Loyalists Battle U.S., Iraqi Forces

A new wave of fighting breaks out between supporters of a radical Shiite cleric and U.S. and Iraqi government forces. Clashes are reported throughout southern Iraq and the Shiite-dominated Baghdad slum known as Sadr City. An American military spokesman says 300 Shiite militiamen were killed in one city alone. NPR's Ivan Watson reports.

Copyright 2004 NPR

Ivan Watson
Ivan Watson is currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. Following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he has served as one of NPR's foreign "firemen," shuttling to and from hotspots around the Middle East and Central Asia.