A suspected suicide bomber has surrendered to British troops in the suburbs of Basra.
The man, who was in his late 40s or early 50s, walked up to gates of a Royal Marines' base in Iraq's second city carrying five hand grenades.
He claimed to have been behind at least two attacks on the base in recent days but had enough, an officer said.
The alarm was first raised for the troops inside the compound when the man walked up to the sentry with his hands on his head but then dropped a yellow hand grenade.
He was arrested and stripped before being taken inside for questioning.
"We thought the hand grenades were fruit at first because they were bright yellow," one soldier said.
"The pins were still in them so they were fairly safe."
Iraqis have targeted the base twice in the last week with rocket propelled grenade launchers and mortar attacks.
The man claimed he was involved in the attacks but now wanted to give himself up, the officer said.
PA