Fierce all-day battle in central Baghdad; 2 helicopters hit but not downed, 16 U.S. troops wounded

Students make their way around debris left after a rocket landed at a schoolyard in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday

BAGHDAD, April 10 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces backed by attack helicopters fought gunmen in Baghdad in a day-long battle on Tuesday, in the fiercest fighting in the capital since a major security crackdown was launched in February.

The U.S. military said four Iraqi soldiers were killed and 16 American soldiers wounded. Three gunmen were killed, it said in a statement. Police said 10 people had died.

Two helicopters were also hit by ground fire but both returned to base, the U.S. military said.

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