12 April 2012
A British soldier has died in Iraq after being hit by small-arms fire while on patrol in Basra, a military spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman did not give further details but said the serviceman received his injuries in Basra's central neighbourhood of Ashar.
Basra is Iraq's second largest city 340 miles south-east of the capital Baghdad.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that Britain will reduce its force in Iraq from 7,100 to 5,500 in the coming months.
Some 126 British personnel have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion four years ago.
