The British Ministry of Defense confirmed on Monday that the soldier found dead at a British military base in southern Iraqi city of Basra turned out to be a servicewoman.  

According to the ministry, Staff Sergeant Denise Rose's body was found at the British base at the Shatt al-Arab hotel in Basra on Sunday.

Her death made the first female military fatality for Britain since the country joined the US-led war against Iraq in last March.

"The investigation into her death is ongoing, but it is not believed to be the result of any hostile act," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier reports said the 34-year-old soldier was a member of the Royal Military Police's Special Investigation Branch.

Her death brought to 70 the number of British troops who have died in Iraq since the war broke out.

Britain has positioned about 9,000 troops in Iraq, most of them are within the area of Basra.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2004)