Roadside bomb in Iraq kills British soldier

BASRA, Jan 21 (Reuters) A roadside bomb today killed one British soldier and wounded four in northern Basra in southern Iraq, the British military said.

British forces have around 6,000 troops in the oil-rich southern city. One of the wounded was in serious condition, a British spokesman said.

In London, the British defence ministry said the five soldiers were on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle in northern Basra when the attack took place.

''The patrol was carrying out routine duties when a suspected roadside bomb detonated. They were travelling on the outskirts of the northern part of the city near the districts of Al Hadi and Al Jezaizah,'' a ministry statement said.

The death brings to 130 the number of British military personnel who have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

Reuters DKA RN1444