GUNNED DOWN; Squaddie killed in rebel Basra attack.Byline: MARK ELLIS Mark Ellis is the name of:
A BRITISH soldier was killed and another seriously injured in clashes with Iraqi rebel gunmen in Basra yesterday. The two were involved in a "hostile incident" with supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Major Ian Clooney, British Army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the governments and armed forces of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. spokesman in Basra, said the dead soldier's name and age would not be released until next of kin The blood relatives entitled by law to inherit the property of a person who dies without leaving a valid will, although the term is sometimes interpreted to include a relationship existing by reason of marriage. Cross-references Descent and Distribution. had been informed. He is the 65th British serviceman to die since the start of the Iraq invasion in March last year. The second soldier has non-life threatening injuries and last night was receiving treatment. Witnesses said militia loyal to al-Sadr used rocket-propelled grenades, rifles and machine guns. A hotel was damaged and two Iraqi civilians were also wounded. Major Clooney added: "There have been a number of incidents this evening in Basra where British forces have been attacked by insurgents. "The exact details of the attacks are not yet known but one British soldier has regrettably been killed and another injured. The exact details regarding the casualties will not be released until the next of kin have been informed." Earlier yesterday men identified only as "foreigners" travelling in three UK vehicles were rescued by British troops in Basra after they were hit by a roadside bomb. A military spokesman said the vehicles were destroyed and those inside, believed to be British Special Forces, exchanged fire with the attackers before they were rescued. Basra has seen a surge in fighting in the last 12 days between troops and rebels as al-Sadr urged his Mahdi army This page describes the Shia Mahdi Army of contemporary Iraq; for the Sunni Mahdi Army of Nineteenth Century Sudan, see Muhammad Ahmad. The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mahdi Militia or Jaish al Mahdi (Arabic to fight to expel American-led forces from the country. Last night an eight-man Iraqi peace delegation arrived in Najaf where al-Sadr is besieged by American Marines and Iraqi national guardsmen. CAPTION(S): UNDER FIRE: Iraqis clash with soldiers yesterday; ATTACK: Rebel in front of burning British vehicle |
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