A British soldier was killed and others were injured when a British military convoy came under attack in southern Iraq.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence in London said the incident appeared to be the result of an explosion and was being investigated. He didn't say how many other troops were injured or how badly hurt they were.
The spokesman didn't identify the deceased soldier, but added that details would be released after next of kin had been contacted.
Iraqi police Lt. Karim Lueibi said a roadside bomb exploded near a British convoy near the town of Amarah, 160 north of Basra.
Lt Lueibi said British forces sealed off the site of the attack and a British helicopter arrived at the scene to evacuate casualties.
Later a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb outside the Iraqi Oil Ministry today, a spokesman said.
At least two security guards were killed. The blast happened at about 9.20am (Irish time) near the gate to the heavily fortified building in eastern Baghdad, ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said.
Two other Oil Ministry officials said the blast killed at least two security guards and wounded several other people.
The attack came as Iraqi security forces launched a high-profile campaign in Baghdad, dubbed Operation Lightning, aimed at curbing insurgent bombings and assassinations that have killed more than 700 people since the April 28th announcement of the new Iraqi government.