Explosion heard near British Basra HQ

Saturday, 30 August 2003 5:43 AM

An explosion has been heard near British Army HQ in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

The explosion took place about 200 metres from the entrance to the base of the 19th Mechanised Brigade, according to a British Army spokesman.

According to eyewitness reports, two cars were wrecked in the blast.

No casualties were reported.

The Ministry of Defence has rejected suggestions that the attack "definitely" targeted British troops.

The blast was the result of a "local dispute," not an attack on coalition forces, the MoD said.

Major Niall Greenwood said: "It was not an attack against coalition forces. Indications are that the incident was the result of a dispute between four men over drinking in public.

"Following the dispute a vehicle returned to scene and an explosion was caused, damaging two empty cars.

"Coalition forces deployed to the scene where the area was secured and an investigation conducted."

It comes after a British soldier was killed and another wounded in southeastern Iraq on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, an American soldier was also killed in a guerrilla attack north of Baghdad, according to the US military.

Three other solders were injured in the grenade attack on the six-vehicle convoy near the town of Baquba, 40 miles north of Baghdad.

The total number of US casualties now stands at 65 since the war was declared effectively over on May 1.

11 British servicemen have been killed in Iraq since US President Bush declared the war over.

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