Battle leaves hundreds dead throughout Iraq

Militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr wield their weapons outside a mosque in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City, Iraq, August 6. Coalition troops battled militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in several Iraqi cities on Friday, the second day of fighting that has caused hundreds of casualties. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

A militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr carries a grenade launcher outside a mosque in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City, Iraq, August 6.