The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Baghdad

Fierce clashes between Shiite gunmen and troops spread to new Shiite areas of Iraq on Saturday as the overall death toll from five days of bloodshed surged to nearly 230.

On Saturday violence was reported from the central Shiite city of Karbala in which 12 "criminals" were killed, local police chief Raed Jawdat Shakir said.

He did not provide further details, but said 25 people were also arrested in the operation that began overnight.

The death toll from similar clashes between Shiite gunmen and Iraqi and US troops in Baghdad's sprawling Sadr City stronghold rose to at least 75, with another 498 people wounded in the past four days.

"Seventy-five people have been killed and 498 wounded in clashes in Sadr City.