British soldier killed in Basra

The soldier was on a routine patrol when the attack happened

A British soldier has been killed in southern Iraq after his Warrior patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

Four soldiers were also injured, one "very seriously", in the attack on the routine patrol in the north of Basra.

The soldier was serving with 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry, as part of a unit attached to 1st Battalion the Staffordshire Regiment, officials said.

About 7,000 UK troops are in Basra. The government says it hopes to transfer security to Iraqi forces this year.

The casualties have been medically evacuated from the scene and are receiving the best possible medical care at the field hospital MoD

The attack happened near the districts of Al Hadi and Al Jezaizah.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was unclear whether the soldiers had been dismounted from the armoured vehicle when they were attacked. "The casualties have been medically evacuated from the scene and are receiving the best possible medical care at the field hospital," he added.

The soldier has not yet been named but the MoD said his family had been informed.

Heavy casualties

A total of 130 British troops have now died in Iraq since March 2003, of whom 99 are classed as having been killed in action.

On Thursday a rocket attack on the British Basra Palace military camp wounded six soldiers, one seriously.

And on Wednesday, two British soldiers sustained minor injuries after a roadside bomb exploded in the Al Ashshar area of Basra province.

US forces in Iraq suffered some of their heaviest casualties in recent months on Saturday, with 25 personnel killed.