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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Two British soldiers die in Iraq | Two British soldiers die in Iraq |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier in Iraq has died during fighting in Basra involving 1,000 troops, the MoD has said. | A British soldier in Iraq has died during fighting in Basra involving 1,000 troops, the MoD has said. |
| 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 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. |
| Meanwhile, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles died on Friday in an accident at the Basra Palace base. | Meanwhile, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles died on Friday in an accident at the Basra Palace base. |
| Three injured | Three injured |
| The MoD said the soldier killed in fighting was on patrol in an overnight operation in the north of the city to detain individuals suspected of other attacks. | The MoD said the soldier killed in fighting was on patrol in an overnight operation in the north of the city to detain individuals suspected of other attacks. |
| A number of arrests are reported to have been made. | A number of arrests are reported to have been made. |
| Three soldiers are being treated at the British field hospital in Basra after unrelated incidents during the operation. | Three soldiers are being treated at the British field hospital in Basra after unrelated incidents during the operation. |
| One soldier suffered serious injuries and another minor injury from small arms fire, and a further member of the armed forces was injured by an improvised explosive device. | One soldier suffered serious injuries and another minor injury from small arms fire, and a further member of the armed forces was injured by an improvised explosive device. |
| The next of kin of the soldier who died in an accident have been informed. | The next of kin of the soldier who died in an accident have been informed. |
| "An investigation into the incident is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage," a MoD spokesman said. | "An investigation into the incident is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage," a MoD spokesman said. |
| Elsewhere in Iraq, more than 50 people have been killed in bomb attacks. | Elsewhere in Iraq, more than 50 people have been killed in bomb attacks. |
| Some 22 people died in a suspected suicide bomb in a small Shia Kurdish village in Diyala province. And at least 20 were killed by a truck bomb in the town of Amirli, home to members of Iraq's Turkoman minority. | |
| Elsewhere, police said a family of seven sleeping on a Baghdad rooftop died when a mortar hit the building. | Elsewhere, police said a family of seven sleeping on a Baghdad rooftop died when a mortar hit the building. |
| Troop reductions | Troop reductions |
| The total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 now stands at 158. | The total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 now stands at 158. |
| Most of the 5,500 British troops in Iraq are based in Basra | Most of the 5,500 British troops in Iraq are based in Basra |
| Of those who died, 122 are classed as having been killed in hostile action. | Of those who died, 122 are classed as having been killed in hostile action. |
| Most of the 5,500 UK troops in Iraq are stationed in Basra. | Most of the 5,500 UK troops in Iraq are stationed in Basra. |
| The bases frequently come under mortar fire from Shiite militants involved in a power-struggle in the city. | The bases frequently come under mortar fire from Shiite militants involved in a power-struggle in the city. |
| The BBC understands all personnel are shortly to be moved to a single base at Basra airport. | The BBC understands all personnel are shortly to be moved to a single base at Basra airport. |
| It is thought the plan over the next 12 months is to then reduce the number of troops to just 1,500. | It is thought the plan over the next 12 months is to then reduce the number of troops to just 1,500. |