US and Iraqi troops raid Sadr City

Baghdad: US and Iraqi troops raided Sadr City for a second day on Sunday, targeting Shiite insurgent cells, while British forces stepped up pressure on Shiite militants in the southern city of Basra.

The raids came a day before Iranian and US diplomats were due to hold rare talks in Baghdad over how to end the violence in Iraq.

Forces arrested one suspect, believed to be involved in smuggling high-powered, armour piercing bombs from Iran that have been used against US armored vehicles, the U.S. military said.

US officials have accused Shiite-ruled Iran of training, financing and arming militants in Iraq, in a bid to fan sectarian tensions. Iran denies the claims and blames the presence of US forces for the violence.

During another raid in Sadr City, troops shot an approaching vehicle that ignored their signals to stop. No one was injured in the shooting, but the vehicle was set ablaze, the military said.