US military kills 9 Shi'ite extremists, over 40 wounded in Baghdad

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A US Air Force AC-130 gunship strafed Shi'ite extremists who attacked US soldiers in Baghdad on Monday, as the US military said it killed at least nine militants in recent clashes in the capital. Iraqi health officials on Monday said 41 people, including women and children, have been wounded since Sunday in the militia stronghold of Sadr City, mostly in clashes. The military confirmed Monday that two Iraqi civilians were wounded in a Hellfire missile attack late Sunday in Baghdad's southwestern Aamel neighborhood and were evacuated to a military hospital. Clashes erupted before noon Monday in the militia stronghold of Shula and heavy gunfire could be heard. Apache attack helicopters circled the center of Shula and US armored vehicles blocked entrances into the neighborhood, an Associated Press photographer witnessed.