TWO of the seven Kent-based soldiers ambushed in Southern Iraq were today said to be in a "very serious condition".

The two soldiers, from the Connaught Barracks in Dover, have been transferred to a US field hospital in Kuwait where they underwent surgery overnight.

The soldiers were injured in a helicopter ambush. In a separate attack, six soldiers from the Royal Military Police were killed in a village about 15 miles south of al-Amarah. They were based in Colchester in Essex but their home addresses have not yet been released by the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has told the Commons that the soldiers based at Dover were attacked by Iraqis armed with heavy machine-guns, rocket-propelled grenades and rifles.

It is thought that as well as the seven soldiers from 1 Para on board an RAF Chinook, an RAF reservist doctor, was also injured.

The soldiers from Connaught Barracks went to the Gulf in February and most of them are due to return on two flights on Monday (June 30).

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser described the incident as "deeply tragic" and said he was sending his best wishes to the injured troops for a speedy recovery. He stressed: "My thoughts are with the families and friends in Dover who are waiting for more news."

The soldiers had been due to start returning to Dover next week, and it is hoped their home-coming will still go ahead as planned.

The ambush happened on Tuesday as the Paras' quick reaction force were trying to reach two vehicles which had been targeted by Iraqi gunmen south of Al Amara, 125 miles north of Basra, in the southern oilfields region.

Their RAF Chinook helicopter came under fire. The paratroopers returned fire and called for assistance, and a troop of Scimitar light tanks, a Chinook helicopter and extra troops were sent to the scene. They also came under fire.

Dover's Mayor Cllr George Allt said they were relieved to hear that the fatalities were not Dover soldiers, but they were still very concerned about the Paras who had been injured. "The thoughts of everyone in the town are with the injured soldiers, their families and friends," he said.

Mr Prosser was in contact with the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall seeking assurances that the department was doing all it could to keep the families fully informed.

In the House of Commons, Mr Prosser questioned whether the new security status in Iraq would delay the homecomings.

Mr Hoon said he was not aware of any plans to change the arrangements for the return, though the overall security position obviously had to be kept under review in the light of "these dreadful incidents".

"I can certainly reassure all the families whose loved ones are serving in Iraq that every effort is being made for their welfare," he added.

Ministry of Defence officials are investigating the incidents and will be keen to establish whether the attacks were co-ordinated and which groups were behind them.

Speculation has centred around either Baath party loyalists or other guerrillas opposed to the coalition occupation.