British soldier found shot in Iraq

LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier was found shot dead in Iraq on Thursday although he was not thought to have been the victim of enemy action, the Ministry of Defence said.

The soldier, serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at about 9 a.m. He was given medical aid but was declared dead at the scene.

"No enemy forces were involved. There is no evidence to suggest that anyone else was involved in the incident," the MoD said in a statement.

"The incident is the subject of an ongoing investigation."

The victim is the 177th British soldier to die in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

(Reporting by Michael Holden)