Ananova:

The identities of up to five British servicemen who died when their helicopter crashed in the Iraqi city of Basra at the weekend are expected to be revealed on Monday.

The Ministry of Defence has kept regiments and names a closely guarded secret to allow the families time to grieve.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said on Sunday night night that the immediate family of five servicemen had now been told of their deaths, completing the process of informing next of kin.

Saturday's crash triggered serious clashes between troops and locals who were armed with guns, stones and petrol bombs which they hurled at British forces.

An Iraqi policeman at the scene claimed that the Lynx helicopter was shot down and that four bodies were seen in the wreckage.

Newly-appointed Defence Secretary Des Browne said a maximum of five people were in the helicopter when it crashed into a two-storey house in the city centre. He is expected to make a statement about the incident to the House of Commons later on Monday.

Iraqi Police Captain Mushtaq Khazim said the helicopter had been hit by either a missile or a rocket.

The incident sparked some of the worst fighting between Iraqis and British troops in recent months.

Between 200 and 300 Iraqis swarmed to the scene waving their arms and grinning in apparent jubilation before events turned violent, prompting British soldiers to fire live and baton rounds in self-defence.

At least four Iraqis are thought to have been killed - including a child - in the ensuing melee and a further 31 civilians injured. A number of British soldiers received minor injuries in the attack.