News Search Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind Site search Web search Story archive		31-01-2006 Scotsman Scottish soldier killed in Iraq By Gethin Chamberlain A SCOTTISH soldier was killed yesterday when his patrol came under fire in Iraq's notoriously lawless Maysan province. The soldier, who was serving with the 1st Battalion, The Highlanders Regiment, was hit by small-arms fire outside a police station at about 8:40GMT. An army spokesman said he later died of his injuries. The Highlanders, part of 7 Armoured Brigade, usually operate in Warrior armoured vehicles and armoured Land Rovers, but the soldier is understood to have been on foot when he was hit. The Ministry of Defence said no-one else was injured in the attack. His death brings to 99 the number of British fatalities since the start of the war and is the first suffered by the Highlanders. The soldier is believed to be from Aberdeen and his family have been informed of his death, but asked for some time to come to terms with it before his name is released. The Highlanders arrived in Iraq in October. The regiment's soldiers are split between Basra and the town of Al Amarah, about 160km further north. Amarah has been the scene of most of the fiercest fighting in the British-controlled part of Iraq since the end of the war. A MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time." Of the 99 personnel who have died while on Operation Telic, 76 are classed as having been killed in action, while 23 have died from illness, non-combat injuries, accident or an unknown cause. Defence Secretary John Reid said: "I was very saddened to hear this morning that a British soldier had died whilst performing his duty in Iraq. My thoughts are with his family and friends." Britain's coalition allies in southern Iraq also faced a day of attacks, with an Italian military convoy targeted near its base in Nasiriyah. One Italian soldier was slightly wounded in the attack. Another roadside bomb targeted a joint Danish-Iraqi patrol near the southern city of Basra, wounding one Iraqi policeman. * A US reporter and cameraman were recovering in hospital last night after they were caught up in a roadside bombing. Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt were seriously injured.
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