UK: Rocket Attack On British Base In Iraq Kills 1

A rocket attack on the last remaining British military base in Iraq killed one person Monday, Britain's Ministry of Defense said.

A ministry spokesman said the attack occurred at about 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), and he would only identify the fatality as a "foreign civilian." The spokesman said the victim was not employed by the British military, but gave no further details.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military policy.

Britain has maintained a force of about 4,000 soldiers at Basra Airport since soldiers were withdrawn from their base inside the southern city in late 2007. Rocket and mortar attacks on the airport _ once a regular occurrence _ fell off sharply when British forces left the urban areas.

The military spokesman said the latest strike was the first rocket attack on the airport since December.

Britain has been steadily reducing its presence in Iraq and is to pull most of its remaining forces out by July.

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