Post by Salem6 on Jul 16, 2005 10:08:18 GMT
Three British soldiers have been killed by a suspected roadside bomb while serving in Iraq, the MoD has confirmed.
The troops, from 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment, were attacked in central Amarah early on Saturday morning, a spokesman said.
"Three soldiers have died from injuries sustained in hostile action. We think it was a roadside bomb," he said.
Two other British soldiers were injured in the attack, but their injuries are not life-threatening.
A total of 92 UK troops have been killed in Iraq.
The MoD spokesman said the attack happened in the Risaala neighbourhood of Amarah and the wounded soldiers are being treated in a field hospital.
Further details will not be released until their next of kin have been informed.
The Staffordshire regiment, part of Task Force Maysan, has been on a six-month tour of duty in the Maysan province, near the Iranian border, since April and operate in an area the size of Wales.
The BBC's Joe Floto, in Baghdad, said British soldiers are "convinced they are a popular force" who are keen to get on with Iraqis.
One of the task force's main duties is carrying out patrols in Warrior armoured vehicles.
Task Force Maysan is based at Camp Abu Naji, just outside Amarah, which has a population of about 300,000 and was the scene of explosive violence last year.
It is a battle group largely comprising the 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment, backed by a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks from The King's Royal Hussars, soldiers from No 1 Company, Coldstream Guards, and a company from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales.
Amarah is the capital of the Maysan province and is located to the north of Basra, near to the Iranian border and Tigris River.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4688521.stm