BAGHDAD, May 17: US-led forces in Iraq have killed 51 guerillas in southern Iraq, 20 in an airstrike on militiamen loading and unloading weapons from vehicles in southeastern Iraq, the US military said on Monday.

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told a news conference US-led forces had also killed 17 militiamen loyal to Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr near shrines in the holy city of Karbala in the past 24 hours.

Thirteen Sadr militia were killed in other areas, he said. One other Iraqi was killed on Monday in Najaf when US-led forces were sent to defend police stations which had come under attack, he said. -Reuters