Iraq shelling kills four, US pushes \\\'political\\\' steps

BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (AFP): Shelling in Fallujah, a town near Baghdad held by anti-government fighters, killed four people, officials said Thursday, as Barack Obama pressed "political measures" along with security operations to fight militancy.

But with an election looming in April, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken a hard line and trumpeted assaults on militants, with security forces announcing the killing of more than 50 fighters in recent air strikes amid ongoing efforts to retake areas of another city partly out of government control.

Several neighbourhoods in south Fallujah were hit by shelling late Wednesday, residents of the city told AFP, with four people killed and 18 others wounded, according to Dr. Ahmed Shami from the city's main hospital.

Fallujah residents blame the army for the shelling, but defence officials say the military is not responsible.

Mortars also struck in the centre of Ramadi but did not cause any casualties, a police captain said.

Parts of Ramadi and all of Fallujah, both west of Baghdad, have for weeks been in the hands of anti-government fighters, including those affiliated with the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.