A British soldier has been killed in Iraq, Britain's defense ministry said Friday, according to AP. The soldier, a member of the Parachute Regiment, was fatally injured Wednesday, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. It said it delayed announcing the serviceman's death for operational reasons. No further details were provided, but the soldier's next of kin have been informed. British soldiers withdrew Sunday from their last base in Basra, southern Iraq, and moved to the local airport about 12 miles to the north. The move ended the British military's permanent presence in the city and is viewed as a sign of British plans to cut its 5,500-strong force in Iraq.
