Baghdad, Iraq, Sept 17, SPA -- U.S. forces pounded suspectedhideouts of an extremist group in and around the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Fallujah and battled insurgents in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 44 people and injuring 27, the military and the health ministry said. The clashes came a day after a team of kidnappers grabbedtwo Americans and a Briton in a dawn raid on their home ona leafy Baghdad neighborhood _ a bold abduction thatunderlines the increasing danger for foreigners in theembattled capital as violence soars ahead of nationalelections planned for early next year.--SPA1133 Local Time 0833 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/202413