Six British soldiers hurt in Iraq

Six British soldiers have been injured after a foot patrol came under fire in the southern Iraqi city of Amarah. One of the party was seriously injured and evacuated to a military hospital at Shaibah, on the outskirts of Basra. The attack sparked a seven-and-a-half hour gun battle with insurgents in the city centre which left five Iraqis dead, according to witnesses. The Iraqis killed were said to be members of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's al-Mahdi Army.

British Royal Air Force Squadron Leader and military spokesman Jonathan Arnold said the clashes were still ongoing. "There is some ongoing unrest in the city right now. There are ongoing follow-up operations going on now," he said.

Rescue mission

Speaking from British forces headquarters in the southern city of Basra, Mr Arnold said five soldiers were wounded as they were trying to recover their injured colleague. He could not confirm how many Iraqis were injured or killed, adding: "It is very difficult for us to get any firm estimate of the enemy casualties. The enemy body count is not our priority." Witnesses said rocket-propelled grenades were fired at a British base and two British trucks were burned during the fighting.

British troops were initially deployed in Amarah to deal with a demonstration outside the city's Civic House. The demonstration was sparked by an operation in Amarah last night in which several Iraqis were arrested on suspicion of attacking coalition forces in the area over the past few weeks, a military spokesman said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3677255.stm