A Black Watch soldier died today after a vehicle accident in Iraq. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the solider died in the North Babil Province in Iraq during an incident which was not involving hostile action.

A further three soldiers have suffered minor injuries and shock. They have been evacuated to a military hospital.

The MoD statement said: "We can confirm that a vehicle accident, not involving hostile action, occurred with the Black Watch battle group in the North Babil province. Sadly one soldier from the Black Watch has died and a further three have suffered minor injuries and shock."

Next of kin are being informed. The unnamed victim is the first fatality of his battlegroup’s controversial deployment to the terrorist hotbed. His Warrior armoured fighting vehicle overturned as it was heading northwards towards Camp Dogwood in a lawless desert area some 20 miles south-west of Baghdad.

The tragedy led to further delays for the massive convoy as they inched towards their final destination, more than two days after setting off from the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Road accidents remain the biggest danger for British forces, with more personnel killed as a result of traffic mishaps than any other reason.

Earlier today, it emerged that Black Watch troops had come come under attack within hours of moving into Iraq’s rebel-held badlands, although none was injured.

Troops and vehicles were halted in the searing desert by a series of roadside bombs planted by insurgents determined to give the battle group a bloody welcome, British Army spokesmen said.

The Black Watch’s destination, a military-industrial complex called Camp Dogwood 20 miles west of the terrorist stronghold town of Mahmudiyah, was also targeted for bombardment by insurgents.

The sprawling former logistics base was hit by an explosive device, either an armour-penetrating rocket-propelled grenade or a mortar bomb, as troops were preparing to move in.

A British Army spokesman confirmed that no soldiers were injured in the attacks, but half the convoy was delayed by more than 24 hours because of terrorist activity on the approach to the camp.

At one stage, senior officers feared the troops would have to fight their way into their new base, which was once used by Saddam Hussein’s Republican Guard. It is sited at least 20 miles west of the so-called 'Triangle of Death', containing several towns where ambushes, bombings and kidnappings have become common.

The attacks highlight the fears surrounding the controversial deployment of 850 soldiers to take over from American forces who are needed to quell terrorist activity in the flashpoint city of Fallujah.

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