Basra grenade injures UK troops

British troops and Iraqi police are out on patrol

Three British soldiers have been injured in a grenade attack in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

The troops were hurt when the grenade hit a coalition vehicle on Sunday morning, the Ministry of Defence said.

The soldiers were taken to hospital but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Troops in Basra are on high alert after Saturday's fighting with cleric Moqtada Sadr's supporters which killed at least two Iraqis and wounded seven UK troops.

Day of violence

There were also reports of more clashes in Amarah, a town to the north, on Sunday, following violence on Saturday.

British spokesman in Basra Major Ian Clooney told the AP news agency there were no British casualties but "a number of possible mortar positions" were attacked and destroyed.

He denied local reports that a British helicopter had fired on houses, killing four civilians and destroying several houses.

Iraq attacks Baghdad blast kills four

It is understood the vehicle hit in Basra had been travelling as part of a convoy.

Iraqi police were investigating, a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said.

The grenade attack came a day after troops battled hundreds of militiamen loyal to the radical Shia leader.

Four British soldiers were injured, two Iraqis confirmed dead and one captured during a day of clashes in Basra, with three more soldiers reported injured in Amarah.

Armed supporters of Mr Sadr attempted to seize key buildings and set up their own checkpoints across Basra.

By Saturday night, "large sections" of the city were calm, the MoD said. On Sunday British troops and Iraqi police were out on patrol.

The violence came after Mr Sadr's representative in Basra Sheikh Abdul-Sattar al-Bahadli on Friday offered money for the capture or killing of coalition troops.

He also said any Iraqi who took a female soldier could keep her as a slave or gift to himself.

The wave of violence was also seen as a response to newspaper pictures allegedly showing Iraqi prisoners being abused by coalition troops.