UK soldier killed in Basra

Updated 20.30 Mon May 21 2007

Keywords: troops, Iraq, Basra, shi'ite

A UK soldier and a civilian driver were killed following an attack in the Al Tuwaysa district of central Basra area in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said.

The news follows reports of heavy clashes have erupted between British forces and Shi'ite militiamen near the provincial governor's office in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

In recent months British and Iraqi troops have stepped up operations against Shi'ite militias in the largely Shi'ite south of Iraq

Machine-gun fire and blasts from rocket-propelled grenades could be heard some 200 metres from the governor's office in the centre of Iraq's second largest city.

In recent months British and Iraqi troops have stepped up operations against Shi'ite militias in the largely Shi'ite south of Iraq.

The oil-producing city of Basra, on the Gulf, is gripped by rival Shi'ite factions battling for power and access to the city's oil wealth.