US military says 38 militants killed in Baghdad

Baghdad: The US military says American and Iraqi troops have killed 38 militants in fighting in Baghdad.

That number includes 22 in an attack on Sunday night on a checkpoint in a Shiite militia stronghold.

A statement says the 22 militants were killed as troops repelled an attack by a large group of "criminals" against an Iraqi checkpoint in northeastern Baghdad.

The statement issued on Monday does not give a more exact location but Sadr City and other militia strongholds are in the area.

The military says another 16 other militants were killed in separate clashes in the fiercest fighting in weeks in the capital.