BAGHDAD, October 15, SPA -- Five Iraqi civilians, including twochildren, were killed and 17 were wounded early Mondayafter militiamen attacked a U.S.-run military basesouth of Baghdad, according to police. The clashes in Diwaniyah, a city 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad, began when fighters from the Mahdi Army militia, which is loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, fired at least a dozen mortar rounds at the base, according to a police officer. Eight of the mortar rounds landed on the base, but therewas no immediate word on casualties or damage. A messageleft for the U.S. military asking for comment wasn'timmediately returned, The Associated Press reported. The four other mortar rounds hit the city's nearby jointsecurity center, which is run by Iraqi, U.S. and Polishforces. Mahdi Army fighters emerged from alleys and swarmedthe building, the police officer said, adding the clasheslasted about 30 minutes.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/490510