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Iraq accident death soldier named Iraq accident death soldier named
(40 minutes later)
A British soldier who died in an accident in Iraq has been named by the Ministry of Defence. A British soldier who died in an accident in Iraq on Friday has been named as Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23, of 4th Battalion The Rifles.
Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, died at the Basra Palace base in the centre of the city. Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, died at the Basra Palace base.
An Army investigation has been launched into the fatal accident which happened on Friday. The Ministry of Defence has not given any details of the accident, but said an investigation had begun.
Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva, was serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, when he died. The MoD said "Vaka" was a "quiet, shy and pleasant character".
The MoD said "Vaka", as he was known to his friends, was a "quiet, shy and pleasant character within the platoon." Based in Bulford, Wiltshire, he was described as a team player who completed tasks without complaint or problems.
A spokesman said he was based in Bulford, Wiltshire. Captain Will Peltor, Rifleman Vakabua's Platoon Commander, said: "Vaka's death yesterday has hurt us all deeply: a friend, a cherished brother Rifleman, a proud son of Fiji - and one of whom Fiji can be deeply proud - has been lost serving our country on active service."
The platoon soldiers paid tribute to him in a ceremony, during which his fellow Fijians sang.
Capt Peltor added: "It raised the hairs on the backs of our necks and was a fitting and wonderful tribute to a fallen friend whose faith, courage, selflessness and simple decency defined him and inspired all who knew him."
A second soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who was killed in a bomb attack on Saturday, is expected to be named later.
The latest deaths mean the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 158.