Baghdad, Iraq (UPI) -- Fighting continued for the second straight day Wednesday between gunmen and Iraqi, U.S. and British forces in the so-called triangle of death south of Baghdad.

Witnesses said house-to-house fighting went on unabated in at least five villages as part of a government campaign to seize gunmen and arms.

The campaign which started Tuesday targeted the towns of Latifiyah, Youssefiyah. Mahmoudiyah, Haswa and Messib, all Sunni and believed to be bases for insurgents.

The towns are located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Baghdad in an area dubbed the triangle of death because of the large numbers of people killed in itm especially on the highway linking the Iraqi capital with southern regions.

Security sources said dozens of gunmen were killed and captured in the area in the last 48 hours and large quantities of arms concealed in farmhouses were seized.