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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Soldier dies after Basra fighting | Soldier dies after Basra fighting |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier who was seriously injured during fighting in Basra has died from his wounds. | |
| The Ministry of Defence announced his death at the same time as it named a soldier who was killed in the same operation on Saturday. | The Ministry of Defence announced his death at the same time as it named a soldier who was killed in the same operation on Saturday. |
| The soldier who died on Saturday was named as Lance Corporal Ryan Francis of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh. | The soldier who died on Saturday was named as Lance Corporal Ryan Francis of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh. |
| On Friday, a third serviceman died in an accident in Basra. He has been named as Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23. | On Friday, a third serviceman died in an accident in Basra. He has been named as Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23. |
| The latest casualty has not yet been named but the MoD said he was from 3 Regiment Royal Military Police. | |
| Lance Corporal Ryan Francis, 23, from Llanelli, south Wales, was the driver of a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle which was hit by a roadside bomb. | Lance Corporal Ryan Francis, 23, from Llanelli, south Wales, was the driver of a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle which was hit by a roadside bomb. |
| He was killed during a large-scale operation launched in Basra, aimed at defeating insurgents who had been attacking the Iraqi Provincial Joint Co-ordination Centre in the city. | |
| The centre is home to both Iraqi security forces and multi-national forces. | |
| 'Heart and soul' | 'Heart and soul' |
| A number of locations were searched and arrests were made, but troops came under attack from bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. | A number of locations were searched and arrests were made, but troops came under attack from bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. |
| Three other soldiers were injured in the operation - including the military police soldier who has since died from wounds. | |
| The others are being treated in the British field hospital in Basra. | The others are being treated in the British field hospital in Basra. |
| Lc/Cpl Francis, who was known as Franky, died instantly when his vehicle was attacked. | Lc/Cpl Francis, who was known as Franky, died instantly when his vehicle was attacked. |
| He was described as a 'professional, brave and committed soldier who was the heart and soul of his platoon'. | He was described as a 'professional, brave and committed soldier who was the heart and soul of his platoon'. |
| The British soldier who died in an accident in Iraq on Friday has been named as Rifleman Edward Vakabua, of 4th Battalion The Rifles. | The British soldier who died in an accident in Iraq on Friday has been named as Rifleman Edward Vakabua, of 4th Battalion The Rifles. |
| 'Deeply proud' | 'Deeply proud' |
| Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, died at the Basra Palace base. | Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, died at the Basra Palace base. |
| The Ministry of Defence has not given any details of the accident, but said an investigation had begun. | The Ministry of Defence has not given any details of the accident, but said an investigation had begun. |
| The MoD said "Vaka" was a "quiet, shy and pleasant character". | The MoD said "Vaka" was a "quiet, shy and pleasant character". |
| Based in Bulford, Wiltshire, he was described as a team player who completed tasks without complaint or problems. | Based in Bulford, Wiltshire, he was described as a team player who completed tasks without complaint or problems. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Courage and selflessness' | 'Courage and selflessness' |
| The platoon soldiers paid tribute to him in a ceremony, during which his fellow Fijians sang. | 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." | 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." |
| Rifleman Vakabua's mother and sisters live in Fiji and his brother is also serving in Iraq, with the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. | Rifleman Vakabua's mother and sisters live in Fiji and his brother is also serving in Iraq, with the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Rifleman Vakabua. His family are very much in my thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with their loss." | Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Rifleman Vakabua. His family are very much in my thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with their loss." |
| Fijian soldiers | Fijian soldiers |
| The latest deaths mean the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 159. | The latest deaths mean the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 159. |
| Of those who died, 123 are classed as having been killed in combat. | Of those who died, 123 are classed as having been killed in combat. |
| There are approximately 2,000 soldiers serving in the British Army from Fiji, a country where almost half of the population is reported to live below the poverty line. | There are approximately 2,000 soldiers serving in the British Army from Fiji, a country where almost half of the population is reported to live below the poverty line. |