The deaths take the total of British serviceman to die since the war began on March 20 to 30.

"A soldier was killed in action in Basra on 6 April. His next of kin have been informed," the defence ministry said in a statement.

"In a separate incident, two other soldiers were killed in action in Basra later the same day. Their families are being informed," the statement, on the defence ministry's website, said.

The name of the first fatality, whose death had been announced earlier Sunday by a British army spokesman in Kuwait, was given as 18-year-old Kelan Turrington from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

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.

SPACE.WIRE