Shiite militiamen in Iraq fired several mortar shells at a US base early yesterday and at a city hall guarded by Bulgarian troops in another Shiite city. Four US soldiers died after their Humvee overturned during a combat patrol north of Baghdad, the US Army said.
The sporadic overnight shelling of the US base in Najaf followed intense attacks on Monday by militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who pounded the base with mortars and fired rifles and machine guns. No US soldiers were killed in either attack. US officers estimate about 20 Iraqis were killed by retaliatory fire.
In Karbala, 80km north of Najaf, the city hall and the police headquarters, which are guarded by Bulgarian soldiers, came under mortar fire before dawn yesterday, Bulgarian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Rumyana Strugareva said.
No casualties or damage were reported after that attack, which lasted about 10 minutes. Al-Sadr's forces have battled coalition troops since occupation authorities sought his arrest last month for killing a rival cleric last year.
North of Baghdad, four US soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division died from injuries sustained when their vehicle overturned on Monday night during a patrol near Khalis, some 60km northeast of Baghdad, the military said in a statement.
At least 759 US troops have died in Iraq since the war began in March last year.
In Najaf, US commanders said they were holding back fire to avoid serious clashes in the city, which is home to one of the most holy Shiite Muslim shrines.
"I think every soldier here understands the sensitivities of the situation," said Lieutenant Colonel Pat White. He added that US troops would "maintain our defense posture" until someone "much, much higher than me makes a different decision."
Yesterday's shelling was light compared to Monday's sharp clashes.
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