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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Two UK soldiers killed in Iraq | Two UK soldiers killed in Iraq |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two British soldiers have been killed in south-east Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. | Two British soldiers have been killed in south-east Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. |
| The soldiers, from the Catterick-based Queen's Royal Lancers, were on a routine patrol in Maysan Province when they were caught in an explosion. | |
| Three further soldiers were injured - one seriously. They have been flown to Tallil airbase in Dhi Qar province. | Three further soldiers were injured - one seriously. They have been flown to Tallil airbase in Dhi Qar province. |
| The two deaths bring the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 144. | The two deaths bring the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 144. |
| The soldiers were patrolling in a Scimitar tank when the blast occurred at 1120 local time (0820 BST) on Thursday. | The soldiers were patrolling in a Scimitar tank when the blast occurred at 1120 local time (0820 BST) on Thursday. |
| They were killed a day after Iraqi authorities took over control of security enforcement in Maysan Province. | They were killed a day after Iraqi authorities took over control of security enforcement in Maysan Province. |
| The soldiers' families have asked for 24 hours before any further details are released about their deaths. | The soldiers' families have asked for 24 hours before any further details are released about their deaths. |
| Their regiment is currently nearing the end of a six-month tour. | |
| British forces withdrew from a permanent base in Maysan last August, but have continued to work at improving border security in the province. | |
| Two military personnel were killed on Sunday when two Puma helicopters crashed in an apparent mid-air collision in a rural area near Taji, north of Baghdad. | Two military personnel were killed on Sunday when two Puma helicopters crashed in an apparent mid-air collision in a rural area near Taji, north of Baghdad. |
| They have been named as Colour Sergeant Mark Powell, 37, of the Parachute Regiment and Sergeant Mark McLaren, 27, of the RAF. | They have been named as Colour Sergeant Mark Powell, 37, of the Parachute Regiment and Sergeant Mark McLaren, 27, of the RAF. |