'Four killed' in attack on convoy

A roadside bomb hit a convoy of vehicles today in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, causing casualties.

Officials in London denied initial reports a British diplomatic convoy had come under attack.

An Iraqi police official said four people were killed in the blast and that it struck a British diplomatic convoy. Iraqi police Capt. Mushtaq Talib said the victims nationalities were not known.

A British Foreign Office spokesman said no diplomatic, consulate, or government staff were in the convoy of vehicles.

In Basra, a British military spokesman confirmed the bombing, but said no military forces were targeted. He added that “the casualties have been evacuated to a medical centre” but gave no further details.

APTN video showed an overturned white SUV in a ravine next to a busy highway. Six British Army Land Rovers, together with Iraqi police cars and two civilian ambulances were parked nearby. British soldiers were seen loading a body from the SUV into a military ambulance.