Bodies of Military Police recovered from Iraqi town

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the bodies of six members of the Royal Military Patrol killed yesterday have been recovered from the town of Al Majar al Kabir in Iraq.

According to Defence secretary, Geoff Hoon the soldiers who were killed had been engaged in training the local Iraqi police, but he added that local information suggested that they may have been involved in an incident at the police station.

In what is believed to be a separate incident, troops from 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, patrolling in the town of Al Majar Al Kabir also came under fire yesterday. The patrol took one casualty and two vehicles were destroyed.

Responding to this incident, an RAF Chinook helicopter carrying a Quick Reaction Force came under fire as it landed. Seven personnel on board the helicopter were wounded, three of them seriously, and are now receiving treatment in a Kuwaiti hospital.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Hoon tried to ease public concern over the safety of British troops in Iraq: “I would certainly caution against reaching any wider conclusions about the overall security situation in southern Iraq, particularly in the United Kingdom's area of responsibility.

“Coalition forces have worked hard to secure Iraq in the aftermath of decisive combat operations. They will not be deflected from their efforts by the enemies of peace.”

The incidents will no doubt put extra pressure on the government who is currently facing a grilling over its handling of the war in Iraq and weapons of mass destruction.

Shadow Defence secretary, Bernard Jenkin today insisted: “It is still too early to tell if this signals a general worsening of security in Iraq. However, these two attacks may have been coordinated. If so, I want to know

which organisation is behind these attacks and what the government is going

to do to deal with the threat of further attacks.”

He added: “We have the best trained and equipped troops deal with these threats, but if we require more troops in Iraq to operate safely, then the government must send more troops.”

The Prime Minister’s Official spokesman today announced that investigations were continuing into yesterday’s events in Southern Iraq.

Commenting on the deaths Mr Blair said that he believed those who had died, did so with honour, doing a very worthwhile job and serving their country with great distinction.

The commanding officer of 156 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, also praised the dead soldiers, adding: “Their deaths in action underlines the challenging and difficult operations that the RMP are asked to undertake both in peace and times of conflict.”

Liberal democrat leader Charles Kennedy today condemned the killing of British troops, and the growing number of attacks on US and British forces in recent weeks. He said that this was an "awful reminder to us all that winning the peace in Iraq is as important as, and even more difficult than, winning the war".

At a Pentagon briefing yesterday, US Defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that coalition personnel were making progress in Iraq, but the recent deaths of American and British soldiers "show the world is still engaged in a dangerous war against terrorism”.

Events yesterday mark the first British fatalities of the war since April 6. It brings the number of British troops killed since the start of the conflict to 43.

(MM)