TWO soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment are at the centre of a military police investigation into the death of an Iraqi prisoner.

The men were arrested and questioned following the death in British custody of 26-year-old Baha Musa.

The family of the man, who was arrested along with seven men during a weapons search, believe he was beaten and strangled. Three detainees are still in custody.

They were all arrested on September 14 during a weapons search in what the Army call an "anti-terrorist and anti-criminal operation" in Basra.

An Army spokeswoman confirmed that two soldiers from the QLR are helping military police with their inquiries as part of an ongoing investigation but neither have been detained.

They were arrested, questioned and released pending a full investigation and all QLR soldiers have now returned to their barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

A large proportion of the QLR soldiers are from East Lancashire but it is not known where the two soldiers under investigation are from.

Commanding officer of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendoza, said: "There is a full investigation on-going but I can confirm that an Iraqi man died in custody.

"Baha's father has received an interim payment of compensation while the full amount is being considered.

"As I was dealing with the family I was responsible for handing it over."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence added: "An investigation is being held and two soldiers are helping police with their inquiries.

"We do not have any further information."

The QLR's 620 officers and soldiers - including more than 150 from East Lancashire - have been responsible for security in Basra.

Since being deployed in mid-June they have had just six days leave but last week 215 of them - including the majority of those from this area - were reunited with family and friends at Catterick Garrison.

Some soldiers also returned to Fulwood Barracks, Preston, yesterday.