Summary Iraqi forces killed 10 gunmen in clashes that erupted as they cleared a year-old Sunni protest camp.
RAMADI (AFP) - Iraqi forces killed 10 gunmen Monday in clashes that erupted as they cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp, a move likely to fan resentment among the minority community.
As the fighting raged, mosques exhorted followers to "go to jihad," or holy war, while gunmen later replaced security forces on some streets of Ramadi city, near the protest site west of Baghdad.
Forty-four Iraqi MPs announced their resignation following the violence, which came just days after a deadly raid on the home of a Sunni lawmaker in the city, capital of restive Anbar province.
A similar operation at a Sunni protest camp outside the northern town of Hawijah in April triggered clashes that killed dozens of people, sparking a wave of revenge attacks and sending death tolls soaring.
Dr Ahmed al-Ani of Ramadi hospital said 10 gunmen were killed and 30 wounded on Monday.
An AFP journalist in Ramadi reported heavy fighting, and saw helicopters firing into the area of the protest site, where demonstrators had gathered for more than a year.
Gunmen also burned two security forces vehicles and seized a third.
Sporadic clashes continued, and gunmen could be seen on some Ramadi streets, while security forces were visible at the edge of the city.
The fighting spread to the nearby city of Fallujah, where police Captain Omar Oda said militants burned military vehicles during clashes with security forces.
Dr Assem al-Hamdani said 11 gunmen were wounded.
Forty-four MPs announced their resignation on Monday evening, triggering the latest in a long line of political crises.
