The soldier was providing cover for a Warrior armoured vehicle

The soldier, from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was patrolling in the Al Ashar district of central Basra.

He was providing protection for a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was killed by small arms fire.

This latest death brings the total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq to 145.

The soldier was evacuated to Basra Palace but died of his injuries.

There were no other casualties as a result of the incident and the soldier's next of kin have been informed.

'Critical time' for Iraq security

Meanwhile, the MoD also confirmed that a British Challenger 2 tank was badly damaged by a roadside bomb in Iraq, leaving the driver seriously injured.

That incident took place on 6 April in the western district of Basra.

The previous British military casualties in Iraq were two soldiers from the Catterick-based Queen's Royal Lancers, who were killed following an explosion while on patrol in Maysan Province on 19 April.