Iraqi shopkeepers and townspeople in southern Baghdad engaged in a gun battle with terrorists today—and won. (Hat tip: NC.)

Gunbattles erupted out in the streets of the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Doura, where militants wearing black hoods and riding in three cars opened fire on people shopping on a main street. Shopkeepers and residents returned fire, killing three assailants. A man, woman and child were injured and taken to a hospital.

Dr. Iyad Yass of al-Yarmouk hospital said four victims were admitted to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

“Two of them are risky. One of them was admitted to the operative theatre,” he said.

Earlier, gunmen in the same quarter killed a policeman as he drove to work, said police Lt. Col. Hafidh Al-Ghrayri.