68 killed in Iraq clashes

At least 68 people have been killed in two of Iraq's major cities. Street battles between members of a messianic cult and Iraqi troops have raged for a second day.

On Friday, about 36 people died in clashes in the country's second largest city, Basra after cult members opened fire on a police patrol. The violence spread to Nasiriyah, about 300 kilometers southeast of Baghdad where police say at least 30 people have died.

Both cities are in provinces that have been handed over to the Iraqis. The clashes pose a major test for Iraqi forces preparing to take over security so US-led forces can leave.