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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Iraq bomb kills three UK soldiers | Iraq bomb kills three UK soldiers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three British soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. | Three British soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. |
| A military spokesman said that a fourth soldier was seriously injured and next of kin had been informed. | A military spokesman said that a fourth soldier was seriously injured and next of kin had been informed. |
| Major David Gell said the explosion happened at about 0100 local time on Thursday in the Al Antahiya district. | |
| Two of the soldiers were from the Third Battalion, the Regiment of Scotland, and one was from the Second Battalion, The Royal Welsh Regiment. | |
| They had left their Warrior armoured vehicle in the south-east of Basra when an improvised explosive device was detonated. | |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said the troops were returning to their base at Basra airport after carrying out a re-supply mission at their Basra Palace base. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said the troops were returning to their base at Basra airport after carrying out a re-supply mission at their Basra Palace base. |
| A British military statement said: "It is with deep regret that we can confirm that three soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device this morning." | A British military statement said: "It is with deep regret that we can confirm that three soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device this morning." |
| The injured soldier is being treated at a military field hospital in Basra. | The injured soldier is being treated at a military field hospital in Basra. |
| 'Deeply affected' | 'Deeply affected' |
| Maj Gell told BBC Radio Five Live: "It would be wrong to say incidents like this will not have an effect and morale from soldiers will, of course, take a knock. | Maj Gell told BBC Radio Five Live: "It would be wrong to say incidents like this will not have an effect and morale from soldiers will, of course, take a knock. |
| There are around 5,500 British troops serving in Iraq | There are around 5,500 British troops serving in Iraq |
| "All of us cope with death in different ways. | "All of us cope with death in different ways. |
| "As individuals, we all get deeply affected, but we all appreciate there is a job to be done, and service personnel are professional, very resilient, and we recognise that we have a task to do and we'll do that task well." | "As individuals, we all get deeply affected, but we all appreciate there is a job to be done, and service personnel are professional, very resilient, and we recognise that we have a task to do and we'll do that task well." |
| He said the number of insurgent attacks in Basra had peaked at the end of February, fallen, and was now rising again. | He said the number of insurgent attacks in Basra had peaked at the end of February, fallen, and was now rising again. |
| "We believe this to be in part because of our success against rogue militia who are trying to destabilise the situation," he said. | "We believe this to be in part because of our success against rogue militia who are trying to destabilise the situation," he said. |
| The deaths take to the total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 to 156. | The deaths take to the total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 to 156. |