Fierce clashes erupted on Tuesday in central Baghdad's Haifa Street between US-backed Iraqi forces and insurgents, witnesses and police said.

Loud explosions and gunfire rattled the area, where has been the bastion of insurgency against the US-led occupation of Iraq, the witnesses said.

"A fierce clashes erupted in the area, but there is no immediate information" about casualties, Dr. Sabah Kadhum, the head of information department of Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua.

Iraqi forces backed by US troops have repeatedly attacked the area in recent days, detaining dozens of suspects.

Source: Xinhua