LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - A British soldier has been shot dead during a search and detention operation in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday. His death brings to 126 the number of British military personnel killed since the U.S-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 -- of which 96 have been killed in action. "The soldier sustained gunshot wounds during the operation and was evacuated to a nearby military hospital. Despite the best possible medical care, the soldier later died from his injuries," it said in a statement. The unnamed soldier was a member of the Parachute Regiment on secondment to the headquarters of the Multinational Division South East, Iraq. His next of kin have been informed.
