An Iraqi court on Thursday handed down death sentences to two senior militants from so-called Special Groups, Shiite militants the US military says are backed by neighbouring Iran. "The Diwaniyah Criminal Court sentenced two Special Groups leaders to death," Brigadier General Abdulaziz al-Salehi, a police spokesman in the town south of Baghdad, told a foreign news agency. He said the two men were accused of killing dozens of people, rape, and planting bombs in the province. The US military has long accused the Special Groups of receiving arms, finance and training from Iran, allegations denied by Tehran.