The U.S. military said on Sunday that Iraqi security forces detained 20 people as they stormed a Shiite mosque in Baghdad's southern district Saturday night to search for "terrorist cell leader."

Iraqi soldiers and police, backed by U.S. troops, cordoned off the Sadrain mosque in the Zaafaraniyah neighborhood and stormed it at about 9:40 p.m. (1740 GMT) after receiving a tip-off from local residents, the military said in a statement.

The mosque is believed to be for Shiites loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militiamen were accused of being involved in sectarian killing and abduction.

Two days ago, U.S. troops backed by helicopters clashed with Sadr's militiamen at the eastern densely populated Sadr City and detained a "terrorist cell leader," according to a police source. At least seven militiamen were killed and up to 31 wounded, including civilians, the source said.

Sunni leaders accuse the Mehdi Army of taking the lead in attacks on Sunni homes and mosques, mainly in Baghdad, after the Samarra Golden Mosque bombing, a charge denied by Sadr.

Sadr, an outspoken opponent of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the concept of federalism, led two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004.

Source: Xinhua