A US millitary spokesman announced the fatalities on Monday, saying that 22 of the dead were criminals who launched an attack on a checkpoint manned by Iraqi security men backed up by US tanks, and seven of the dead belonged to a unit which attacked a US patrol.  Others died in smaller engagements during the day. 
The main skirmishes took place in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, the home base of the Mahdi Army loyal to dissident Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who accuses the US and Maliki of seeking to crush his militia ahead of provincial and local elections in October. 

The US argues that the Sadrists are under attack because they are firing mortars and rockets at the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy and Iraqi government offices are located in central Baghdad.  The zone has been frequently struck by missiles since Maliki began his operation against the Sadrists at the end of March. Five US citizens have been killed in strikes.

Meanwhile, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, is reportedly trying to broker a ceasefire between the government and the Sadrists. Sadr's spokesman in Najaf, Salah al-Obeidi said, “We are looking for assurances that the government will abide by any agreement.” A truce mediated last month by the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards was ignored by the government almost as soon as it was reached.  While Obeidi said that the crisis can be resolved by dialogue, Maliki laid down conditions for ending military operations against the Mahdi Army.  He called for the militia to hand in heavy and medium weapons, cease interference in the work of the government departments, police and army, and surrender wanted men.The Sadrists have rejected these demands.

Fifty Iraqi politicians staged a protest on Sunday against the siege by US and Iraqi forces of Sadr City, home to more than two million poor Shias.  While the politicians pledged to cooperate with the Sadr movement to secure the evacuation of armed men from the district, they also called on the government end military activity, supply basic services and halt the blockade which is causing serious hardship.