TWO soldiers from the Canterbury-based Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were injured when their convoy was ambushed by Muslims fanatics on Friday night.

They become involved in a prolonged skirmish with supporters of the radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr between the towns of Basra and Amara.

The injuries to the British soldiers are not thought to be life-threatening.

Twenty extremists were killed in the fighting.

The Highlanders are one of two regiments stationed at Howe Barracks who are helping to bring democracy to Iraq. The others are the Prince of Wales Royal Regiment.