British soldiers 'killed by al-Qaida bomb'

In statements posted on Islamic websites, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for two attacks – a roadside bombing that killed two British soldiers west of Basra and a daring daylight assault against the Interior Ministry in Baghdad in which two policemen died.

Iraqi police said the troops were killed yesterday when a British convoy was hit by a roadside bomb near the al-Zubeir area, about 12 miles south of Basra.