British soldiers killed in ambush

Two British soldiers died today when their convoy was ambushed near Basra.

Seconds later, as colleagues tried desperately to rescue two badly injured colleagues, the convoy of two Land Rovers and a flatbed lorry came under concentrated attack by insurgents.

Today's deaths bring the total of British soldiers killed in combat in Iraq to 24.

The two injured soldiers later died at the British military hospital in Shaibah, near Basra, the spokesman said. Their names and units have been withheld until their families have been told.

Hospital officials in Basra said at least two Iraqi bystanders were also injured in the attack. Of the 24 British soldiers killed in combat, 17 have died since 1 May last year when President Bush declared the major combat over.

Another 39 British servicemen have died in other incidents.

Despite today's violence Major Charlie Mayo, a British Army spokesman in Basra, said there had been a "dramatic decrease in activity" in the region since last month.

The fall-off happened following the visit of Iraq's most senior Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The cleric had been on his way to Najaf where he brokered a deal to end fighting in the holy city between supporters of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and US forces. Major Mayo said: "We now go through some days when there are no incidents at all in south-east Iraq."

When there was trouble it usually involved rocket-propelled grenades, small arms fire, or "normal criminal activity"-He also "categorically" denied that there were any " nogo areas" in Basra.

"We have freedom of movement with the Iraqi police and the Iraqi national guard throughout south-east Iraq." British troops were now playing a "supporting role" to these forces, he said.

Asked how long they might have to stay he said: "We deploy for a set period of time to go out and do a job and that is all that really concerns us." Also in Iraq today, three civilians were wounded when a bomb exploded beside a main road in Baghdad. At least six other blasts were later heard in the capital.

The roadside bomb also damaged several vehicles and shattered windows. The target of the attack was not immediately clear.