The U.S.-backed Iraqi government has declared a state of emergency in Baghdad on Friday, shortly after American troops were involved in a heavy firefight in the central part of the Iraqi capital.
The gunfight broke out between American forces and the Mahdi Army militia was escorting radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to a Shiite mosque in a Sunni neighborhood. Just last week, a shoe-bomber set off a blast in the Baratha mosque, killing 11 and wounding 25 during Friday prayers.
Today's violence started when four members of the militia were killed by gunmen opening fire on the Mahdi Army convoy. The battle involved guns and mortars and left eight of the group's vehicles ablaze according to an official with the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
Iraqi and American troops then rushed to join the fighting. Three Iraqi police officers and five Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the fighting according to a report published by Reuters.
Images shown on Iraqi television showed American helicopters swooping low to drop flares over the midday battle.
The Iraqi government responded to the outbreak by ordering a sudden curfew, extending from 2:00 this afternoon to 6:00 AM Saturday. Residents had to rush to get home before the curfew went into effect. There is already a ban on cars and other vehicles between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Friday to prevent further car bomb attacks during Friday religious services.
Major General Abdul-Aziz Mohamed Jassim of the Defense Ministry told the Associated Press, 'The state of emergency and curfew came in the wake of today's clashes to let the army work freely to chase militants and to avoid casualties among civilians.' The decree also gives police broader power to make arrests and bans any civilians from carrying weapons.
Meanwhile, the American military announced the death of two soldiers on Friday who were killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad and a Marine who was killed Wednesday during fighting in al-Anbar province. Another soldier's death was announced in an incident not related to combat. No further details were being made available at this time.
