KARBALA, Iraq -- A confrontation between American troops and supporters of a militant Shiite cleric eased Sunday after U.S. forces withdrew from around a house formerly used by the Muslim leader and handed over control of the area to Iraqi police.
The troops, who had surrounded the house and several nearby buildings Saturday, pulled back following an early morning raid, neighbors said.
The Americans searched the buildings apparently for the cleric, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hassani, and his supporters, who are accused of killing three American soldiers in a shootout last week. No suspects were found, the witnesses said.
By Sunday afternoon, the U.S. military had removed many of its roadblocks from the area.
"We've contained the situation," according to an official with the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority who requested anonymity. "We and the Iraqi police are in full control of the city."
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-iraq-timesoct19,1,6627564.story?coll=la-home-headlines
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