A British soldier was killed when a crowd of Iraqis fired on a patrol with guns and rocket-propelled grenades near the southern town of Amara, amilitary spokesman said this morning.
He said the patrol was attacked yesterdayevening as it was returning to base after an arrest operation inin Ali al-Gharbi.
The spokesman said the soldiers met a crowd of about 30 people who formed a roadblock. Soldiers moved around the crowd, only to be stopped by a second crowd blocking the road near Fort Jennings.
The British said they arrested 10 people among the crowds, and withdrew to their base at al-Amarah, 75 miles north of Basra with protection from helicopters and additional rapid reaction troops called to the scene.
The attack happened five days after three Royal Military police officers were killed in the southern city of Basra. The three dead MPs died when the civilian jeep they were travelling in came under fire.
Today's death brings the British toll in the war to 49, with 11 of them killed since May 1st when US President George W. Bush declared an end to major fighting.