Roadside bomb kills Danish soldier

One Danish soldier was killed and another injured when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol vehicles on Thursday, according to the Danish military command.

The incident occured as the soldiers' Royal Guard unit was on patrol in Al Hartha, a conflict-ridden suburb of Basra.

A helicopter evacuated the two soldiers and transported them to the British field hospital at Shaiba Log Base, but one of the soldiers died on the operating table. The other soldier suffered surface wounds caused by shrapnel.

Major Gen. Poul Kiærskou, head of the Army Operative Command, offered his condolences to the family of the 20-year-old. The soldier, Jesper Nielsen, came from Jutland, but officials were withholding the location of his hometown in accordance with his family's wishes.

The prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also offered his condolences: 'In this difficult time, our thoughts and sympathy go out to his family members and comrades.'

Rasmussen condemned the attack, calling it 'despicable and cowardly' and said it would have no effect on whether Danish troops were withdrawn from the country.

'The attack hit Danish soldiers who were in Iraq to help Iraqis achieve freedom, peace, and progress,' said Rasmussen.

Denmark currently has more than 500 soldiers stationed in Iraq. In January, parliament renewed their mission until July, although opposition parties said their support for a mission renewal could not be expected in the future.

The incident marked the third death of Danish military personnel in Iraq.