Staffs soldier hit by gunman

A Staffordshire Regiment soldier is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot by an Iraqi gunman in Basra.

The shooting came three days before the regiment launched a reactive strike operation against rogue militia elements in the southern Iraqi city.

The injured soldier, who has not been named, was travelling in a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was hit on Wednesday.

On Saturday a multi-national forces base in Basra Palace came under indirect fire attack and the operation, codenamed Operation Phoenix, was launched after those involved in the attack were spotted and tracked to a building west of the Al Jameat district of the city.

On their way to carrying out the raid the soldiers from the 1 Staffords Battlegroup, came under attack from small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades but the patrol continued to its target.

Just after midnight local time the troops went into the property, where it was believed illegal weapons and ammunition were being stored.

The raid uncovered a significant arsenal of ammunition, weapons and bomb-making equipment hidden in a vehicle.

They included a 107mm rocket, six rocket-propelled grenades, a mortar launcher and a number of 60mm mortars.

Items of equipment associated with the use of the ammunition were also found/

While carrying out the raid the soldiers came under further attack.

Major David Gell, Uk military spokesman in southern Iraq, said the operation was at short notice.

"In terms of what was found at the property, there is no doubt that the operation was a success. the fact that we found these weapons and equipment, which could well have been used for either mortar attacks or for producing roadside bombs against multi-national force soldiers, means that we have certainly disrupted rogue militia elements.

"It will also mean that there are less weapons on the streets, which in turn can only make the streets safer for the people of Basra."