REBELS in Iraq targeted Black Watch troops yesterday in a series of rocket attacks at their base 25 miles south of Baghdad.

No one was injured in the four assaults and there was minimal damage. But British soldiers at Camp Dogwood have faced daily bombardment since arriving on Friday to set up their 850-member battle group in the US-controlled area close to the Iraqi capital.

Yesterday's onslaught takes the number of rocket or mortar attacks to seven since British troops moved to the area.

In the southern city of Basra, there was a single rocket attack on the airport where the British headquarters is based. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said no one was injured.

Military sources believe the biggest terrorist threat comes from Islamic extremists under the command of Abu Moussab Al Zarqawi, whose Tawhid and Jihad group was responsible for the beheading of British engineer Ken Bigley.

News of the latest bombardments came as a British soldier was found dead at a military base in Basra.

The MoD spokesman said: "An investigation into the death is ongoing, but it is not believed to be the result of any hostile action."

Next of kin were being informed and no further details were immediately available.

Two days ago, Private Kevin Thomas McHale, of the 1st Battalion, became the first fatality of the Black Watch move to their new base.

The 27-year-old, from Fife, was killed after a vehicle accident in the North Babil Province during an incident which did not involve hostile action.

A further three soldiers suffered minor injuries and shock in the incident. The MoD said they are now back at work.

The Black Watch are relieving US forces who are expected to mount an assault on the rebel stronghold of Fallujah.

The battle group's mission, called "Operation Bracken", is to deter the criminal and terrorist gangs operating freely in the area, which in the past has provided "rat-run" escapes for militants from Fallujah.

As the troops established their position, there was no word on the plight of kidnapped hostage Margaret Hassan, who was abducted as she travelled to work in western Baghdad on October 19.