Britain's Defense Secretary Des Browne is in Iraq on an unannounced visit for talks with British military troops and commanders.
Browne flew into the southern Iraqi city of Basra Wednesday on what the British Ministry of Defense called a "general visit." The ministry declined to say how long Browne will stay in Iraq, or to give further details of his trip.
Britain has reduced the number of its forces in Iraq over the past year, but still has about 4,000 troops stationed outside Basra.
In violence Tuesday, Iraqi police said a roadside bomb killed two people and wounded 10 others in southeastern Baghdad.
In a separate incident, the U.S. military in Iraq said an American soldier died Tuesday after a roadside bomb hit his patrol near the town of Diwaniya, south of Baghdad.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.