Four UK soldiers arrested for manslaughter

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) Police have arrested four soldiers on suspicion of manslaughter over the sudden death of a 22-year-old serviceman.

Wiltshire police said the soldier, serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Welsh, collapsed and died after exercising at around noon yesterday.

A post mortem will be held later today.

Police arrested four soldiers from the same battalion, aged 44, 33, 31 and 28, and are questioning them at Salisbury police station.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: ''With great sadness we can confirm that a 22-year-old soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment died yesterday.

''Four soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

We are unable to comment further as an investigation is ongoing.'' The battalion recruits from all of Wales and is based at Tidworth, Wiltshire.

REUTERS CH KN1227