Pahad told reporters in Pretoria he was "surprised" to learn that a young Pretoria man, Sholto Hedenskog, was killed while fighting for the British army in Iraq.

"We have communicated with the British high commissioner (ambassador) in South Africa and asked for more facts about Hedenskog and for details of other South Africans in the British army," Pahad told reporters in Pretoria.

"We must get the legal opinion first. We cannot ask Britain to freeze something that may be legal."

Pahad said Hedenskog was one of between 250 and 300 South African citizens serving in the British forces.

Hedenskog, 27, was one of 12 soldiers who died on March 21 when a US naval helicopter, on its way to the Al-Faw peninsula, crashed about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the Iraqi border.

"We have to find the basic facts and on the basis of those we can make an informed political decision," said Pahad.

On Monday President Thabo Mbeki blasted the US-led invasion of Iraq, saying African countries might in the future be force-fed democracy by others with guns in hand.

"The prospect facing the people of Iraq should serve as sufficient warning that in future we too might have others descend on us, guns in hand to force-feed us (with democracy)," Mbeki said in Pretoria.

SPACE.WIRE