An Australian soldier has been killed in Iraq following an accidental shooting on Friday afternoon.
The incident was not related to combat action and no other personnel were injured during the incident.
The soldier had been serving in Iraq since March with the Operation Catalyst Security Detachment in Baghdad working for the reconstruction of the country.
The Federal Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says accident happened as the unnamed soldier was cleaning his gun.
Mr Nelson announced several investigations will be held to determine the cause of death.
“We expect that it would take about 2 days for the body to be returned to Australia. It will be the subject of course of the coroners inquiry. There will also be a military inquiry into the circumstances of the death itself.” Mr Nelson said.
The man is the first Australian soldier to die in IRAQ since the 2003 U-S led invasion.
The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, has made a statement to a press conference:
“An Australian soldier died yesterday afternoon in Iraq as the result of a gunshot wound. His death was the result of a tragic accident and was not related to enemy action.”