"Clashes occurred Saturday night in which one Dutch soldier was killed while several were wounded," said a spokesman for the British military from the southern city of Basra.

The Dutch defence ministry confirmed that a 29-year old soldier had died and five other were severely wounded but were now in a stable condition.

The ministry's statement said the soldiers were hit after a Dutch army vehicle near Ar Rumaythah close to the Dutch base in As Samawah came under attack.

According to the ministry it was not clear who was responsible for the attack, but the Dutch army will open an investigation.

This is only the second time a Dutch soldier has died in Iraq. The Netherlands has some 1,300 troops stationed in southern Iraq under British command.

WAR.WIRE