Two Irish Guards killed in Iraq

Two Irish Guards have been reported killed in Iraq following two days of sustained fighting to secure Basra.

With resistance described as "sporadic" within the city, a third soldier has also been reported killed as UK forces sought to secure their hold over the southern Iraqi city.

One of the Irish guards killed was named as Lance Corporal Ian Malone, 28, from Dublin who was serving with the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards. The name of the second Irish Guard who died has not yet been released, but the third soldier killed was named as 18-year-old Kelan John Turrington of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

British military sources said it was believed that around 300 Iraqi combatants had died as as result of the military action during the past two days as armoured vehicles moved in to the streets of Basrah. Commanders on the ground said that the action had resulted in substantial gains within the city limits and that the second largest city was now largely in the hands of coalition forces.

British forces also confirmed that the commander of Iraqi forces in the south Ali Hassan al-Majid, dubbed 'Chemical Ali' for his use of poison gas on Kurds in Northern Iraq, had been found dead.

(SP)