Hundreds of people were killed, said officials close to the former dictator whose militia was battling Government forces.

His militia once battled U.S. troops, but he is now a key political ally for Mr Maliki.

During much of the 1990s, heavily armed militias battled for supremacy across Tajikistan.

Heavy fighting left dozens dead in the north on Wednesday as factional militias battled for control of a local district, officials there said.

The cattle his father had set aside for his tuition were stolen when rival militias battled for control of his hometown.

Certain militia of the Media Lords are battling with bravos of 'the Camel's Revenge.'

For nearly 10 years, Congo has been mired in turmoil as militias loyal to various politicians and outside interests battled over the country's vast mineral fortunes.

Last May, an anemic force of about 200 Uruguayan peacekeepers stood by helplessly as rival ethnic militias battled for control of Bunia.

The rival militias are battling for control of Shiite areas.

More than 16 rival Muslim militias, each ruling a neighborhood of the city, frequently battled each other for supremacy.