Two British soldiers killed in southern Iraq

BASRA, Iraq, May 14 : Two British soldiers were killed and another was seriously wounded in a roadside bomb attack in southern Iraq, military officials today said.

The bomb exploded late yesterday night as a convoy of four armoured land rovers was on patrol just north of the city of Basra, British military spokesman Squadron Leader Al Green said.

''There is one quite severely wounded and a number of walking wounded,'' Green said.

The casualties came from the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment and their next of kin had been informed, officials said.

The attack came a week after a British military helicopter crashed in Basra, killing five all five personnel on board. The army is investigating whether the aircraft was shot down.

''I was greatly saddened to hear that two British soldiers have died and one has been injured while performing their duties in Iraq,'' British Defence Secretary Des Browne said.

''My deepest sympathies and thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult time.''

Reuters