Roadside bomb kills British soldier in Iraq

LONDON - A British soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Iraq, the 83rd British military death since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

"We regret that a soldier from 12th Mechanised Brigade has died today from injuries sustained in hostile action," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

The soldier was named as Guardsman Anthony John Wakefield, 24, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northeast England. He was on a routine patrol near the city of Al Amarah when the bomb exploded.

Another soldier from the same unit was wounded in the attack, but not seriously.

There has been a sharp increase in violence in Iraq in recent weeks.

Since Thursday, when the first democratically elected government in 50 years was formed, there have been more than 15 car bombings in Baghdad and dozens of attacks elsewhere.

Britain has about 8,000 troops in Iraq, the second-biggest contingent behind the United States. Most of them are based in the south.

The soldier's death ensured Iraq remained an issue at British Prime Minister Tony Blair's morning election news conference.

"It underlines once again the extraordinary work and sacrifice that British armed forces are making in Iraq to help Iraq become a stable and democratic country that's no longer a threat to its region and the world," said Blair, who is seeking a third successive term in Thursday's election.

- REUTERS