British servicemen held over Iraq 'shooting'

Two British servicemen have been arrested in Iraq amid reports that they fired on police in Basra, the Ministry of Defence confirmed today.

They were detained by police in the southern city earlier today following reports of a skirmish.

Local authorities in the city said the men had been held after firing on police.

A senior Iraqi official claimed he had been informed by the British military that the men were soldiers working covertly in civilian clothes.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on reports that the men were working undercover and said it is not yet known exactly why they have been held.

A spokesman said: “We can confirm that two military personnel were detained by Iraqi authorities earlier today.”