British soldier dies in Basra
126 UK troops have now died in Iraq since March 2003
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Friday, 24, Nov 2006 08:14
A British soldier has died in southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
The soldier, who has not been named, was killed during what the MoD has called a "planned search and detention operation" in Basra in the south of the country.
An MoD spokesperson said the solider, who is a member of Parachute Regiment, sustained gunshot wounds in the operation and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. He later died from his injuries.
The solider had been on secondment to Headquarters Multinational Division South East, Iraq.
"Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of 24 hours in which to inform wider members of the family before details of his identity are released," the MoD said.
Today's death brings the total number of UK soldiers to be killed in service in Iraq to 126 since the US-led invasion of the country in March 2003.
It also comes in a week when the British government has made its most telling comments about when UK troops are to pull out of Iraq.
Foreign secretary Margaret Beckett told MPs on Wednesday that control of Basra should be handed over to Iraqi forces by next spring.