At least 105 killed in Iraq clashes

BAGHDAD  ( 2008-03-27 15:54:45 ) : 

At least 105 people have been killed in Iraq since fierce clashes between Shia militants and security forces broke out three days ago, according to an AFP tally based on reports by security officials.
Hundreds of people have been wounded in the battles.
Fighting has raged in four cities since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday ordered the security forces to raid strongholds of Shia militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the southern port city of Basra.
At least 23 people have been killed in Basra, which was on Thursday rocked for a third straight day by fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Iraqi security officials.
Fighting spread on Thursday to the central city of Kut, where 44 people -- 40 gunmen and four policemen -- died, according to local police chief Abdul Hanin al-Amara.
Another 30 people were killed in clashes between Shia gunmen and Iraqi and US forces in Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of the Mahdi Army militia, Iraqi security officials said.
Eight people have been killed in the province of Babel, south of the capital, Iraqi and US officials said.