British soldier killed in Basra

Updated 22.44 Sun Apr 29 2007

Keywords: army, soldier, Ministry of Defence, Iraq, Basra, Shia

A British soldier has been shot dead while on routine patrol in Basra.

The soldier had dismounted from his vehicle during the patrol in the al-Ashar district of Basra. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that he was from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles.

Twelve British servicemen and women have been killed in April - the highest number of casualties in a single month since March 2003

With British troops poised to begin reducing their 7,000-strong force in Basra to about 5,500 by the beginning of June, Shia militias are increasing their attacks.

Twelve British servicemen and women have been killed in April - the highest number of casualties in a single month since March 2003, when 27 were killed in the opening days of the war.

British bases have been struck almost daily by mortar fire and patrols hit by roadside bombs and machine gun fire.

A total of 146 British troops have died in the Iraq campaign since the 2003 invasion.