British marine dies in Iraq clash

Corporal Ian Plank, killed in action in Iraq

A Royal Marine has been killed during a coalition operation in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Corporal Ian Plank, 31, of Poole in Dorset, was killed by hostile fire on 31 October.

He is the 19th member of the UK armed forces to die in Iraq since the end of major hostilities was declared on 1 May, and the 52nd since the war began.

Tony Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister was "deeply saddened" by the news.

"We have always been aware that the work that our troops do in Iraq is both dangerous and valuable," he said.

He embodied all the personal and professional qualities associated with the Royal Marines Colonel Jerry Heal, Royal Marines Director

"The prime minister has always been very aware of the risks that our soldiers run at the same time as he believes their work is highly to be valued."

Corporal Plank was described as "extremely popular and greatly admired" by his colleagues.

He was "widely respected for his professional excellence, commitment and determination," said Jerry Heal, Director of the Royal Marines.

'Grim week'

"He was particularly well known for his resilience and robustness under pressure, when his leadership, example and sense of humour were especially valued.

The work that he and other soldiers have been doing in providing peace and genuine freedom for the Iraqi people has not been acknowledged enough Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith

"He embodied all the personal and professional qualities associated with the Royal Marines and he enriched the lives of those who knew him, both socially and in the workplace."

There was little information about the circumstances surrounding Corporal Plank's death.

The Ministry of Defence would say only that it happened during "coalition operations" and had not been announced earlier for "operational reasons".

The news of his death follows what Mr Blair described as a "grim week" for coalition forces in Iraq.

An American soldier was killed by a homemade bomb in Baghdad on Tuesday, and 16 died in a helicopter attack near Falluja on Sunday.

An explosion in the holy city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, on Monday night killed two Iraqis.

A homemade bomb in Tikrit killed a US soldier on Monday, and two Iraqi judges were killed in Najaf and Mosul.

Coalition

Almost all British forces operate in southern Iraq - although UK and other coalition forces do take part in operations in other parts of the country.

Most of the attacks which have killed Americans took place in central and northern areas.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said he "regretted" the death of Corporal Plank.

"The work that he and other soldiers have been doing in providing peace and genuine freedom for the Iraqi people has not been acknowledged enough," he said.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said: "Whilst US forces have taken many casualties over recent months, we must not forget the brave and dangerous work that our armed forces are undertaking to restore peace and stability in and around Basra."

Both US President George W Bush and Mr Blair have insisted that, although the situation in Iraq is difficult, the coalition will not be deterred from its aims.