Two British military personnel have been arrested in Iraq amid claims they fired at police during a second day of unrest in the southern city of Basra, BBC reported on Monday.

After the arrests, a tank outside the police station where the two were being held was set alight in a clash between British soldiers and protesters.

Troops were seen jumping from the tank and withdrew without returning fire.

The British Ministry of Defense confirmed British officials in Basra were trying to get to see the arrested men and find out why they were being held.

A senior Iraqi official earlier told Reuters news agency the British military had told him the arrested pair had been working undercover in civilian clothes.

Violence has been increasing in the British-controlled Basra region in recent months, with two soldiers killed by a roadside bomb on 5 September and a third on 11 September.

Source: Xinhua