A British officer was killed and two other soldiers wounded in an attack on an Army ambulance in the Iraqi city of Basra yesterday.

The two injured men suffered shrapnel wounds which were not thought to be life-threatening.

The attack was carried out using an improvised bomb hidden in a pile of earth next to a lamp post, which was set off by remote control.

The green Army ambulance, an adapted Land Rover clearly marked with a large red cross, was travelling from Basra to Shaibah when the attack took place at around 9am British time.

One of the soldiers was being taken to hospital for a routine matter when the attack took place.

Major Charlie Mayo said: "This was a direct attack on a clearly marked ambulance, without any justification.

"We will work closely with the police and local community to track down those responsible."

The officer - a member of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment - is the first British soldier to die in combat since June 24, when six Royal Military Police were killed near Basra.

British combat deaths now stand at seven since May 1, when US President George Bush declared major fighting at an end.

There were eight such deaths before May 1, and in all there have been 46 British deaths, including soldiers killed in action, by friendly fire, natural causes and accidents.