Fierce clashes pitting US troops and militants loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr broke out in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood, killing 15 people and wounding 52 others, the Dubai-based al-Arabiya television reported Wednesday.

The clashes erupted as the Iraqi forces backed by US troops searched for weapons caches in the Shiite stronghold east of Baghdad, the channel said.

"Fifteen people were killed and 52 others wounded in the American bombardments of several districts of Sadr City," the channel quoted an official from Sadr office as saying.

US aircraft and tanks attacked the rebel positions of Sadr followers after fierce fighting broke out early in the morning, it added.