A Bulgarian soldier was killed near the Iraqi town of Diwaniya when unknown militants attacked Bulgarian patrol at 18.45, Bulgarian time, on Friday.

Private Gurdi Hristov Gurdev, 30, a machine gunner on an armored vehicle, was gravely injured in the attack which occurred on the Tampa road, some 40-45 km away from the Echo base, Defense Ministry announced in a press release.

He was immediately rushed to hospital, but doctors could not save him and Private Gurdev died before reaching it, the statement also said.

President Georgi Parvanov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg have been informed about the incident, Defense Ministry press centre said. The premier has ordered an immediate launch of investigation into the case.

Bulgaria's 430-strong infantry contingent is deployed within the Polish-led multinational commandment in the province of Qadissiya, south Iraq. It was removed from Kerbala end of 2004 over security reasons and Bulgarian militaries have since claimed the new Echo base is located in a calmer area of the country.

This is the eighth military casualty of Bulgaria since it launched Iraqi mission in August 2003 and the first since its new deployment.