UNDER FIRE By Tom Newton Dunn, Defence Correspondent   A BRITISH soldier is engulfed in flames after he and his colleagues are attacked by a mob hurling petrol bombs and grenades during a riot in Basra yesterday. The soldier was among 14 troops injured - three seriously - in clashes with more than 500 protesters venting their fury over the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin at Gaza. At least one of the men, thought to be from the Royal Regiment of Wales, suffered serious burns. But today the three seriously injured troops were said to be in a stable condition and none of their injuries life threatening. Squadron Leader Jon Arnold, of the British forces headquarters in Basra, said: "All the casualties are in a stable condition. However, we cannot comment on numbers still under hospital care." Officers believe trouble flared after a peaceful demonstration over job shortages was hijacked by religious extremists and Saddam Hussein supporters. Some shouted slogans in support of Saddam and others chanted: "We are all sons of Yassin." Troops feared a terrorist attack had happened after two loud blasts were heard near the riots in the centre of Basra, close to a British Army HQ. Nine soldiers had blast and shrapnel injuries from a grenade hurled at them. A home-made bomb was set off to catch troops sent in to quell the rioting. The injured troops were evacuated by helicopter to a military hospital at Shaibah in the desert. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The crowd was eventually dispersed with rubber bullets. Six Iraqi civilians were injured in the clashes. An Army spokesman said last night: "The families of the injured are being informed and until then we are not able to release any information about them. "The incident is not thought to be terrorist related but stemmed from a public order incident. The exact circumstances are being investigated. "This will not deter the coalition forces, or the vast majority of Iraqis, from continuing to work to improve the security and infrastructure of Basra." British military spokesman in Basra Major Tim Smith added: "The situation is calm but tense. "I want to commend the soldiers' restraint under enormous pressure in dealing with the situation with the minimum of force." It was the worst day of violence against the occupying forces in Iraq's second city since three days of riots last summer over fuel and water shortages.    Top