Iraq clashes kill 41 in northern city of Mosul

BAGHDAD - The Associated Press

raqi soldiers stand guard at the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's Husseiniya district, April 25. Unrest in Iraq spread to Mosul on April 25, where at least 41 were killed in clashes that began a day before. REUTERS photo

Iraqi police in Mosul said 31 militants and 10 police have been killed in clashes since late April 24, marking a sharp increase in the death toll in the northern city.

Two police officials, who provided the casualty figures, say the fighting began April 24 night and had died down by late April 25 morning.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information. The fighting comes amid growing unrest in Iraq since fighting broke out in the northern town of Hawija during a security crackdown on a protest encampment on April 25.