British soldiers 'killed by al-Qaida bomb'
In statements posted on Islamic websites, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for two attacks – a roadside bombing that killed two British soldiers west of Basra and a daring daylight assault against the Interior Ministry in Baghdad in which two policemen died.
Iraqi police said the troops were killed yesterday when a British convoy was hit by a roadside bomb near the al-Zubeir area, about 12 miles south of Basra.
The names and ranks of the two soldiers were not immediately released.
“We can confirm two soldiers from Multi-National Division Southeast died from injuries sustained in a roadside bomb explosion,” a Ministry of Defence spokesman said yesterday, adding the pair were travelling in an armoured Land Rover.
The deaths brought to 95 the number of British military personnel killed in Iraq.
