"We have suffered one fatality," Lieutenant Commander Emma Thomas told AFP. "There are no further details while the next of kin are informed."

British tanks rolled into the centre of Basra on Sunday and surrounded the local Baath Party headquarters, effectively taking control of Iraq's southern metropolis, military officials said.

Colonel Hugh Blackman, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, said around 150 Iraqis were killed on Saturday during fierce exchanges with his men and at least the same number died during Sunday's assault, with only "a couple of dozen" taken alive.

Thomas said there was no official word on the number of Iraqi casualties in Sunday's exchanges.

The soldier was the 28th British serviceman to die since the war began on March 20.

SPACE.WIRE