LOC19:42
16:42 GMT
LONDON, May 8 (KUNA) -- Two civilians were killed and a British serviceman
was injured in a rocket attack on the UK's Basra Airport base in Iraq
Thursday, the British Ministry of Defence MoD said.
Around 12 missiles were launched at the large base outside the Iraqi second
city this afternoon. The MoD said no British servicemen were seriously injured
in the attack but it is understood a British soldier was hurt. He is described
as a "walking wounded".
The two civilian workers are believed to have come from a Middle Eastern
country but it is not known if they were Iraqi nationals.
Major Tom Holloway, the British military spokesman in Iraq, said "I can
confirm that the Contingency Operating Base (COB) was subjected to an indirect
fire attack this afternoon."
"The attack has resulted in a number of casualties but we will not provide
any further details on them at this time." He said adding that "I can also
confirm that there were no coalition military fatalities," he added.
There are around 4,100 British troops deployed in southern Iraq mainly at
the Basra Air Base. (end)
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