BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Armed clashes resumed Saturday in the Iraqi Shiite district of al-Sadr City between U.S. forces and Shiite militiamen after a 24-hour hiatus in fighting.
Residents in al-Sadr City on the eastern outskirts of Baghdad said they were awakened early Saturday by the sound of explosions.
Iraqi sources said fighting erupted between American forces and al-Mehdi militia, led by Shiite rebel leader Moqtada al-Sadr, despite a ceasefire agreement mediated by Shiite spiritual leader Ali Sistani Thursday night in Najaf.
Al-Sadr City, populated by 2 million residents, witnessed bloody clashes during the past three weeks, while Najaf remained calm for a third consecutive day after weeks of fighting that left hundreds of homes destroyed.
In the Sunni city of Fallujah city, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Baghdad calm was reported Saturday after a Friday night U.S. air strike killed two people and injured 11 others.
