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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK soldier dies in Iraq fighting | UK soldier dies in Iraq fighting |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier has been killed and three others wounded in three separate incidents around Basra, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A British soldier has been killed and three others wounded in three separate incidents around Basra, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| About 1,000 troops were involved in operations in the city. | |
| Soldiers came under attack from machine gun and rocket propelled grenades, and encountered several roadside bombs. | Soldiers came under attack from machine gun and rocket propelled grenades, and encountered several roadside bombs. |
| The dead soldier - in a Warrior vehicle patrol in the Tuninah district - was hit by an improvised explosive device. Next of kin have yet to be informed. | |
| The MoD said the soldier was taking part in an operation to detain individuals suspected of other attacks. | |
| A number of arrests are reported to have been made. | |
| 'Troop reductions' | |
| The death take to the total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 to 157. | |
| Of those who died, 122 are classed as having been killed in hostile action. | |
| Most of the 5,500 UK troops in Iraq are based at two locations in Basra. | |
| The BBC understands soldiers are shortly to be moved to a single base at the city's airport. | |
| It is thought the plan over the next 12 months is to then reduce the number of troops to just 1,500. |