Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. troops and aircraft fought fierce battle with gunmen in central Baghdad on Tuesday, a well-informed police source told Xinhua.

The clashes broke out after the Iraqi soldiers carried out a search operation in the Sunni neighborhood around Haifa Street in central Baghdad early in the morning, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The Iraqi government forces called in U.S. military support to control the area, he said.

Since late Saturday, tensions rose in the neighborhood following an operation carried out by Iraqi troops in which 30 militants were killed and eight others detained, including five Sudanese fighters, according to reports by the state-run Iraqia TV.

Earlier on Saturday the police reported 27 bodies of torture victims were found dumped in Haifa Street.

Gunfire and explosions could be heard in the area while U.S. helicopters hovered above the neighborhood, he said.

"It is yet to know how many people were killed or detained as the U.S. and Iraqi troops cordoned off the area and gunfire continues at the scene," the source added.

Witnesses said that two nearby bridges across Tigris River were blocked by the security forces.

Source: Xinhua